Kenny Pickett Impressed by Darnell Washington

UNITY TWP., Pa — Darnell Washington is the biggest man out of the 90 men who take the field in Latrobe for Steelers training camp. But not everything has gone swimmingly for the rookie tight end just yet. He has struggled some with drops and a lack of polish on his routes, but much of that was to be expected right out of the gate.

However, Washington has one person excited. That man is Kenny Pickett, his quarterback. With the pads coming on for the first time on Tuesday, Washington will have a chance to feel more in his element than he had been prior to these days when the Steelers will be hitting. But Pickett is looking forward to learning more about his big target.

“I’m excited to work with guys like Darnell,” Pickett said. “We don’t have a lot of reps there. But getting down into the red zone today, I think that will be huge there. It will be huge to build upon what we did in the Spring.

Just a rookie a year ago, Kenny Pickett understands that the game can be a little fast for some guys at times. But George Pickens had effusive praise for Washington last week, saying that at his best, he could be the best TE in the NFL. Pickett never went that far as to say Washington could light the world up that easily, but he has been impressed by the way Washington studies the playbook and gets after it.

“He’s done a great job,” Pickett said. “You know, he’s working hard and I’m sure his mind is going one hundred miles per hour. It will slow down for him but I’m just excited how he’s showing up and working. He’s mentally locked in, and everything else will come.”

Coming out of Georgia, everyone knew Washington as the monster who could destroy players in space and become a sixth offensive lineman. With the pads now coming on, he has the opportunity to show off those skills.