When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Georgia tight end Darnell Washington in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, they had concerns about his knee problems. These medical warning signs were likely a factor in Washington’s descent in the draft and allowed Pittsburgh to snag him as an exceptionally valuable pick in the third round. In college, Washington played a key role in a dominant college football program and contributed significantly to their success despite not being the focal point of their passing game. His unique ability as a blocking tight end made him a standout player, regularly overwhelming defenses with his physicality and athleticism.

While Washington’s abilities as a blocker excited the Steelers, reports surfaced that the team was fully aware of his knee history and drafted him with the understanding that he might not receive a second contract due to possible long-term durability issues. Despite that knowledge, Pittsburgh saw enough potential in him to take the risk given the value he offered at his draft position. Washington’s imposing frame and ability to clear lanes for running backs made him an ideal fit for the Steelers’ offensive plan, which places a heavy emphasis on the ground game.

In an interview on former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats’ podcast, Washington expressed surprise at the knee problems that reportedly hurt his draft stock. He revealed that he was not aware of any significant knee problems and was shocked to learn that medical concerns impacted his draft position.

“It previewed the best there is, and I’m at the top,” Washington said. “As if I was 33, they put me in the 33rd best spot available. Then the next spot is 80, so I’m like, ‘Damn, I’ve been on the board for a long time. There they were.’ like Darnell Washington, knee problems, things like that. But it was a surprise to me because in college I had a freshman year as a knee scope, but other than that I didn’t miss any games above my knees.”

Washington revealed that he had no idea where the reports of his knee problems came from, as he had never had any significant problems with his knees during college, aside from a minor setback his freshman year.

He further explained that the rumors of serious knee problems were completely unfounded and the claims that his knees were a long-term problem were not true.

“I attended the (NFL) Combine and Pro Day,” Washington said. “If I had two knee problems, I would have done one or the other. So I did both. I think, man, when I was out there I never had a knee (issue), “I don’t know where they got that information from.”

This is great news for Steeler Nation. While Washington wasn’t heavily involved in the passing game in his first two NFL seasons, he did show early signs of his potential. In 2024, he has recorded six catches for 55 receiving yards and one touchdown in six games.

The Steelers’ Darnell Washington will likely get more chances with Russell Wilson

While these numbers aren’t overwhelming, they represent an improvement over his rookie season and his performance is trending upward. With the expected news that Russell Wilson will be the starter on Sunday, Washington will likely see even more options in the passing attack.

Wilson has been vocal about how impressed he is with Washington, which could lead to an increase in tight ends targets. If Wilson takes over the starting quarterback role, Washington could be more involved in the offense, particularly in the passing game. Despite ongoing concerns about his knee issues, which were a major topic of discussion during his draft process, Washington remains unfazed. He expressed confidence in his health and is unsure where the reports of knee injuries even originated.

Washington’s confidence in his physicality and his growing role in the offense gives hope that he can continue to make an impact. As the season progresses and with Wilson potentially at the helm, he could become a more important part of the Steelers’ offensive game plan.