Darnell Washington feels comfortable with Steelers offense entering camp

Rookie tight end Darnell Washington is happy with where he’s at as the Steelers kicked off training camp this past week. Drafted in the third round, Washington figures to make an impact right away and has been soaking up the playbook since then.

Although he admitted he still has more to learn, he feels “comfortable” with where he stands on things a little more than a month before the start of the regular season.

“I would like to say so,” Washington said when asked if he had a good grasp on the offense. “It just comes with time and things like that, more time in the playbook. I’m not gonna say I mastered it or anything like that, but as in the install we put in so far, I feel comfortable.

At 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, Washington stands taller than all five of Pittsburgh’s starting offensive linemen. That has led to expectations of him taking on a key role as a blocker for the Steelers in 2023.

Last season at Georgia, he helped the Bulldogs to finish as one of five SEC teams to average more than 200 rushing yards per game. That should be a valuable addition to a Pittsburgh team that is likely to make the ground game a big part of its offense with star running back Najee Harris.

Washington also showed he can be a threat in the passing game to finish with 28 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns his final season in college. His size certainly makes him a threat to rack up yards after catch, and it will be interesting to see how the Steelers incorporate him into their game plan.

Pittsburgh also returns Pat Freiermuth, who broke out this past season to finish with 63 catches for 732 yards and a pair of scores. They also have Zach Gentry and Connor Heyward to further add depth. That should take pressure off of Washington as he continues to learn the offense, as well as giving him a mentor to help him as he adjusts to the NFL.

“It takes a little bit of pressure off Darnell because of what you’ve got in that (tight end) room,” tight end coach Alredo Roberts said. “As he comes in, he can come in slowly and be allowed to grow. As he does that, I think he can be a real problem for people to handle.”

Steelers fans can get their first look at Washington when Pittsburgh kicks off preseason play on Aug. 11 against Tampa Bay.