High-Upside Steelers TE Darnell Washington Nursing Injury

PITTSBURGH — Steelers rookie tight end Darnell Washington was dealing with a knee injury and did not practice on Thursday, the team announced. Washington dealt with the knee injury throughout the season but has not missed a game yet due to the ailment. Still, missing practice on Thursday is something to watch on Friday, and Washington’s health is essential for Pittsburgh’s run game.

If Washington can, for whatever reason, not play, the Steelers will have Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward. Their options on the practice squad include fullback Zander Horvath and tight end Rodney Williams to help fill that void left behind by Washington.

It is unknown which knee Darnell Washington injured, but it should be noted that he fell in the NFL Draft due to knee injury concerns. Still coming out of the NFL Draft, Washington had no concerns about his knee. But not all the teams in the league agreed with that.

“You know, with my health, I feel great,” Washington said after he was drafted. “Some teams had concerns with knees because I’m taller and a bigger guy. They talked about some knee swelling. For me, I had no injury with my knees ever, knock on wood. I never tore anything in the knees. I had knee surgery on the right knee, but that was just cartilage that flaked up, they went in and cleaned it.”

Washington has played a fair amount in both games in the Steelers’ 12 and 13 personnel looks. He is the best blocking tight end on the team; losing Washington would hurt an already questionable rushing attack more without his presence on the end to help. It would put guys like Freiermuth and Heyward in more in-line situations, something the Steelers want to get both guys away from to utilize their talents in other areas.