PITTSBURGH --Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington says he has shed 10-15 pounds in preparation for his third NFL season. Washington would say his true weight now, but said this is the best he has felt since his days at Georgia.
“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.”
At one point last year, Steelers tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts erroneously stated that Washington weighed 300-plus pounds.
“It‘s hard to turn down his physicality as a big. blocking man,” Roberts said. “You can‘t turn your eye from that. And then he gives you the added dimension because he is athletic. You can‘t expect a guy, he‘s 6-foot-7, 300-plus (pounds), uh oh, I said that out loud. He’s a big man.”
Despite weighing what appeared to be over 300 pounds, Washington took a significant leap as a player. Not only was his blocking much better, but Washington suddenly started to come alive as a receiver. The Steelers had given him opportunities in the passing game, and he smashed his totals from his rookie season.
With more weight down, Washington could round into form this season. Quarterback Mason Rudolph believes Washington looks like a different player.
“I mean, he looks great,” Rudolph said. “He looks like a different player.”
The Steelers are hoping for a year-three ascent from Washington into another tier after a promising second year that saw him progress in his consistency.
With Pat Freiermuth there as well, Washington and Freiermuth should become the base of the Steelers’ tight end room.