All signs point to the Steelers including Darnell Washington in the passing game this season

The Steelers concluded their opening drive of the pre-season Saturday night in Jacksonville with Mason Rudolph tossing a 19-yard touchdown pass. If you were like me, you put a little extra gusto into your fist pump when you realized the recipient of Rudolph’s throw was hulking tight end Darnell Washington.

It’s no secret Pittsburgh fans have been clamoring for Washington to get more targets, particularly in the red zone. Washington, who is listed at 6’7-270, is a matchup nightmare. But he has just 26 catches in his first two seasons, and has been used almost exclusively as a blocking tight end. Have Pittsburgh’s coordinators been blind to Washington’s potential? Have they not realized the advantage he presents?

Before we excoriate the coaching staff, let’s be fair. Washington weighed about 300 pounds his first two years in the league, which caused him to move deliberately. He was slow getting into his routes, and struggled to get open. Granted, he was a monster with the ball in his hands, but getting it to him wasn’t easy. Plus, with the limitations the Steelers had at quarterback the past few seasons, working the middle of the field, where tight ends are often open, was difficult. Washington was a great target in theory, but not nearly as great in practice.

That seems poised to change. This training camp, he has emerged as a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers, who likes his size and massive catch radius. And, by shedding nearly 30 pounds in the off-season, he’s moving much better. I was pleasantly surprised by how fast he looked when I visited Latrobe recently. When Washington gets to full speed, it takes it special human being to stand in his way and try to bring him to the ground. The effort the Steelers have made to get him the ball this season so he can reek havoc on would-be tacklers has been noticeable.

The play on which he scored against Jacksonville was an example of a few things worth getting excited about. First, Washington’s slimmed-down physique allowed him to both win inside position on the safety and to elevate to snag the throw from Rudolph, which was placed perfectly at the top of Washington’s catch radius. Second, the fact the throw attacked the seam — AKA the middle of the field — is more music to the ears of Steeler Nation. Washington gives Pittsburgh a huge target in the soft spot of a zone defense over top of the linebackers and underneath the safeties. If Arthur Smith is willing to throw the ball there, Washington should accommodate him by making plays.

Smith’s affinity for tight ends is well-documented. With Washington, Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith in the fold, he’ll be able to get creative with how he mixes and matches the group. One way or another, expect Washington to figure much more prominently into the passing game than he has the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh fans already know his name, but fantasy nerds should get wise. Darnell Washington could become a serious weapon for the Steelers in 2025.

Two things about the touchdown throw to Darnell Washington:

1. Look at the pocket for Mason Rudolph. Couldn’t be cleaner. That’s encouraging.

2. Ball placement. When you throw it there to a 6’7 target, it’s almost impossible to defend. pic.twitter.com/GS3hMZMi0K

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) August 9, 2025

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