PITTSBURGH -- Darnell Washington vividly remembers the youth football practice where he hurdled his first defender. A perpetual outlier among his peers since a third-grade growth spurt, Washington towered over the defender opposite him in the Oklahoma drill. "It felt amazing just passing somebody without getting touched because I never juke," Washington said. "Stiff arm, lower the shoulder or hurdle."
Nearly two decades later, Washington's size advantage and moves are the same, but the stage is not. Now checking in at 6-foot-7 and officially listed at 264 pounds, the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end is making a name for himself with highlight-reel hurdles and stiff arms. Thursday night, the 25-year-old will have an opportunity in the Steelers' first primetime matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Washington is more than a viral clip. He's the X factor of the Steelers offense as a sure-handed pass catcher, practically untackleable runner and selfless blocker. The Steelers are 13-2 when Washington plays at least 40 offensive snaps. When he plays fewer than 40 snaps, the record drops to 18-22.
"He's unique," said coach Mike McCarthy. "He's a hard guy to tackle. I mean, he's a tough matchup." Former high school coach Tico Rodriguez noted Washington's power and balance, saying opponents learned quickly that "the big man had a lot of power and balance."
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing