Steelers News

Steelers Sights & Sounds: First Look at Rookies Darnell Washington, Keeanu Benton

Published

12 months ago

May 13, 2023

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 rookie class got their reps in black and gold at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side on Saturday.

Check out Darnell Washington stepping into his own as a blocker right out of the gate as Alfredo Roberts watches on at the rookie.

Washington practiced his footwork and hand usage, and that seems to be where the team will immediately see the impact of Washington. However, Omar Khan believes that Washington will not only be an asset in the running game, but also be a new target for Kenny Pickett to love.

On the defensive field, it was second-round pick Keeanu Benton that got a lot of attention on Saturday. Benton is one of two players, along with Nick Herbig, that were selected from the University of Wisconsin.

Karl Dunbar worked with Benton on his stance and other things as he ramps up the rookie to potentially be a significant part of the team’s rotation in the 2023 season.

The two-day camp, which features five first-year players, 13 rookies and 33 tryouts will wrap up on Saturday. After that, the team will have a week off heading into the start of OTAs on May 23.