2024 has been somewhat of a breakthrough season for second-year tight end Darnell Washington. Even with this, the Steelers have yet to tap into his full offensive potential.
Despite being targeted 25 times, Washington has registered 200 receiving yards with an average of 12.5 yards per game, and a catch percentage of 76.0, which ranks him third among Steelers' pass catchers with 20 or more targets.
The obvious area where the Steelers should benefit from using Washington is in the red zone. As it stands, the Steelers currently hold a red zone scoring percentage of just 46.30%, with only the New York Giants performing worse. This season, Washington has only been targeted twice in red zone situations, recording his sole touchdown of the season in Week 2 against the Broncos. One could assert that a player with a passer rating of 95.4 when targeted should have a greater number of opportunities in these situations.
For the team to shake off the stench of their three-game losing streak, they'll need to leave no stones unturned when incorporating their offensive playmakers. Even with the few targets he's received this season, Washington has displayed his ability to make big plays when his number was called.
As the team prepares for their last game of the regular season, it would be the right time for Arthur Smith to open up his offense and give Washington the opportunity to show just how valuable he can be.
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