Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington broke his forearm in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. In turn, he’ll be ruled out for the rest of the game. His departure deals a crushing blow to the Steelers’ offensive success. The team wasn’t already reeling with their top two wideouts devoid of the picture.
Washington had a significant fate on his way out, becoming the team’s only leading receiver in receiving yards. He had two catches for 15 yards. One of them was an important 11-yard reception on a key third-and-16 conversion, which helped set up an eventual field-goal drive for the win. His ability to convert on third downs has proven invaluable, and his role as a key player in the Steelers’ “tush push” offensive strategy cannot be overstated.
In the first half, Washington was regularly the lead pusher in tandem with teammate Connor Heyward in their new signature play. This strategy takes advantage of Washington’s height and power to pick up important yardage on short yardage situations. His absence now creates an obvious hole in that attack – potentially doubling down on conceivably the biggest problem area with Pittsburgh’s offensive game plan.
Before leaving the game Washington was targeted on two passes, highlighting his importance to the passing game. His forearm injury has forced him out for the remainder of the game. Now, the Steelers need to adjust to get by without one of their most successful offensive playmakers. We wish the team the very best as they take on this difficult challenge. They’ll have to play this high-powered offensive game without their star tight end and premier wide receivers.
Leave a Reply