Darnell Washington rumbles for 67 yards vs. CIN

The Steelers notably signed TE Darnell Washington to a four-year, $42 million contract extension this offseason, but DeFabo believes Freiermuth is still the team’s TE1. He expects Washington to continue operating as a receiving threat, “especially in the red zone,” but he is apparently stuck in the TE2 role. Washington’s profile is certainly more intriguing, but he may be best viewed as a boom-bust backup option in best ball for now.

Washington’s contract includes $21 million in guaranteed money. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from Georgia, he’s been as advertised so far in his pro career. Washington has only 57 catches, 625 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons, but is a tremendous blocker and extremely difficult to tackle when he has the ball. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, he’s one of the most physically imposing players in the NFL. With a $10.5 million average annual value, Washington is 12th in AAV among tight ends. That level of commitment could be a sign the Steelers plan to use a good amount of two tight end sets with Washington and Pat Freiermuth in head coach Mike McCarthy’s first season.

Washington underwent surgery Monday and won’t return to the Steelers this season, even if they manage to beat the Ravens in Week 18 and make the playoffs. Washington ends the 2025 season with 31 receptions on 43 targets for 364 yards and one touchdown. He was third among Pittsburgh tight ends in catches, as Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth remains involved in Arthur Smith’s tight end-heavy offensive scheme. With Washington sidelined, Freiermuth would seem to be the main beneficiary. Both Smith and Freiermuth have a 48 percent route participation rate through Week 17.

Washington was ruled out shortly after leaving the field in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. The hulking tight end won’t be available for Week 18’s must-win game against the Ravens that will decide the winner of the AFC North, which further hurts a passing game that will already be without DK Metcalf. Both Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith could benefit from an uptick in targets with Washington sidelined.

Washington went down in the second quarter and attempted to come back in for a play. After his lone attempt to gut it out, he left for the sidelines and was ruled out shortly after leaving the field. Washington’s day ends with two receptions for 15 yards on two targets.

Austin left Week 16’s game with the hamstring injury. He went down in the second half and was listed as questionable to return but never did. A DNP today stacks the odds against him to suit up on Sunday. With DK Metcalf suspended for the remainder of the regular season, Adam Thielen is seemingly the team’s top wideout for Week 17. Aaron Rodgers will also lean heavily on his tight ends versus the Browns, putting Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth in the TE2 mix.

Washington notably coughed up a fumble just before halftime. Washington was pushing toward the end zone but lost control of the ball. The Lions ultimately recovered it, costing the Steelers at least three points. Mike Tomlin wasn’t afraid to go back to his massive tight end and Washington came up with a big first down late in the fourth quarter, nearly icing the game for Pittsburgh. Washington is still splitting reps with Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth, capping him at TE2 numbers. In a game versus Cleveland that will likely skew run-heavy next week, Washington will shuffle to the back of the TE2 range.

Smith scored the second of two rushing touchdowns by Pittsburgh tight ends, setting a new NFL record as the first team in history with two rushing scores by different tight ends in the same game. Leave it to Arthur Smith to be responsible for a record like that. Smith’s outing was otherwise far from noteworthy while playing in a four-man rotation at tight end for the Steelers, with all of Smith, Pat Freiermuth (three catches for 45 yards), Darnell Wshington (three catches for 25 yards), and Heyward (four carries for four yards and a touchdown) getting in on the action.

Washington practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday and Friday. The 24-year-old tight end cleared concussion protocol Sunday morning and is set to play against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 15. With all three of the Steelers’ tight ends available Monday, none of them will be fantasy viable.

That is unfortunate. One would hope to see Washington increase his participation every day, as he works his way through the NFL’s five-phase concussion protocol. It is possible he stalled out in the third phase. Hopefully, he upgrades to full tomorrow and can be on the field when his team faces the Dolphins on Monday night.