Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington is ready to take his game to the next level in his third year in the NFL.
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington has be viewed as a glorified sixth offensive lineman in the first two years of his NFL career. But he is confident he’ll change that narrative in 2025.
“I’ll say I’m for sure different just in the aspect of how to run this route during this coverage,” Washington said. “First year, I was still learning like NFL defenses, what they’re giving us. If I’ve got this route, this coverage, run it like this.”
Washington will get that opportunity after the Steelers lost veteran tight end Donald Parham Jr., who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in practice last week.
Pittsburgh signed Parham this offseason with the hopes he could provide a better pass-catching option at tight end, which is something Washington hasn’t been able to do to start his professional career.
Since being drafted in the third round (No. 93 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, Washington has only recorded 26 catches for 261 yards and one touchdown.
However, the massive 6-foot-7 tight end recently revealed that he’s dropped some weight this offseason and feels like he’s in the best shape of his career.
“Yeah, I dropped about 10 to 15 pounds,” Washington said. “I feel a lot better. I just thought it was something I needed to see happen.”
Only time will tell if that will translate to better production on the field, but the Steelers will likely give him every opportunity to do so with a glaring need at the position.
Washington also seems as confident as ever now with much better knowledge of the game at the next level.
“I’m not really thinking much because once you know it, now it’s just about you doing it full speed. If you somewhat know it, you don’t wanna mess up,” Washington said. “You’re thinking too much and then you drop the ball.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers TE Confident Third-Year Leap is Coming: ‘I’m For Sure Different’
