Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed rising star tight end Darnell Washington on the reserve/injured list, the team announced on Wednesday.
Washington, who’s emerged as one of Aaron Rodgers’ preferred targets, had surgery on his broken left wrist on Tuesday.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ruled Washington out for Sunday night’s pivotal matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Tomlin didn’t elaborate on whether it’s a season-ending injury, but NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport wrote in a post on X that Washington’s season is done. Unless the Steelers make the Super Bowl, Washington will not suit up again this season
“He’s not available to us this week, and that’s really all the information that I was concerned about as we formulate a plan,” Tomlin said. “This is a one-week season for us.”
Washington suffered the injury after a reception during his team’s road loss to the Cleveland Browns. He remained in the game for a few more plays before heading off. Washington had two grabs in the first quarter of that contest, picking up 15 yards.
Rodgers said earlier this season that defenses were starting to respect Washington’s receiving talents, especially with what he could do to punish would-be tacklers after the catch.
“They’re getting scared of him, for sure. They should be,” Rodgers said. “He’s a mammoth. He jumped over a guy. He stiff-armed a guy to the ground, ran a guy over, made another guy miss a tackle. Then he had a block where he knocked two guys down. … I’m just so proud of him, really just his approach and the growth I’ve seen since training camp as he’s continued to get his body in shape, get his mind in shape.”
Washington being out throws a big wrench in the Steelers’ offensive game plan against Baltimore. The offense not having DK Metcalf for a second consecutive week also is not encouraging.
Tomlin is confident in the team’s depth to get the job done, though.
Fans are right to question that confidence after wide receivers Scotty Miller, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen combined for just eight catches for 60 yards on 21 targets last week against the Cleveland Browns. However, Tomlin believes the extra week of preparation will help.
“If they give us 1-on-1 play-making opportunities, we’ve got to make those plays,” Tomlin said. “We’ve gotta put guys in position to do so. We’ve got very capable men. Oftentimes, I say there’s a fine line between being a Pro Bowler and a backup. We’re at the top of the food chain in terms of the football worlds, so it’s a reasonable expectation, from my perspective, particularly with an additional week to prepare, that we put together a thoughtful plan and that we our guys to take advantage of our opportunities, and if and when they do present themselves, that we make the plays.”
Alan Saunders contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Place Key Offensive Weapon on IR
