Steelers’ Washington wants to be traded

A few years after the Steelers made him a secondround pick, James Washington is ready to continue his career elsewhere.

That’s according to a report Friday from ESPN, saying Washington has requested a trade because of a lack of playing time. He has been passed on the depth chart by Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool over the past two seasons, and JuJu Smith-Schuster is still the team’s lead receiver.

Smith-Schuster could have left this offseason in free agency, leading to a larger role for Washington. When Smith-Schuster returned on a one-year deal it created another logjam at the position.

Washington had just 30 catches for 392 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2020, but he’s arguably one of the more talented No. 4 wideouts in the NFL. And if the Steelers had any of their top three miss time due to injury, Washington could step right in the way he did two seasons ago when he had a team-high 735 yards on 44 receptions.

The addition of Claypool last year in the second round put pressure on Washington, given that both primarily play on the outside. Washington was a deep threat in college at Oklahoma State with Mason Rudolph as his quarterback. In Pittsburgh, his opportunities are limited, and he played just 44% of the offensive snaps in his third season.

Washington may well have a legitimate case to be moved, but that doesn’t mean the Steelers have to do it and sacrifice their own depth. Dealing him wouldn’t save much on the salary cap, and would make Ray-Ray McCloud the fourth receiver. Beyond that, there would be a crew of Anthony Johnson, Rico Bussey, Mathew Sexton, Tyler Simmons, Isaiah McKoy and Cody White — all undrafted — competing to round out the depth chart at receiver.

Plus there’s the matter of what he would fetch in return, considering he’s in the last season of his rookie deal. He would be a relatively affordable option for other teams, but also would likely be a one-year rental of sorts. Anthony Miller, who was taken nine picks before Washington in 2018 and has had similar NFL production, was recently traded from Chicago to Houston in exchange for a 2022 fifthrounder (the Bears also sent a 2022 seventh-rounder in the swap). The Steelers likely would be looking at late-round compensation, as well.

Washington’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment when reached by text.

Bills

Josh Allen overcame questions about his accuracy and small-school pedigree to establish himself as the franchise quarterback the Buffalo Bills have been searching for since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired 25 years ago. The Bills on Friday announced Allen agreed to a six-year contract extension that locks up the fourthyear starter through the 2028 season. The value of the contract has not been released, but ESPN reported that Allen’s deal tops out at $258 million, with $150 million of that guaranteed.

Titans

Bud Dupree, Tennessee’s prized free-agent offseason signing, made his practice debut Friday after passing a physical and departing the team’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He took part in stretching and individual drills and also participated in a play or two during team drills. It was a big moment for the team and for Dupree, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament last December against the Baltimore Ravens while with the Steelers.

“Everybody was saying, ‘Welcome back,’” said Dupree, who signed a fiveyear deal with the Titans valued at $82 million last March.

Rams

Backupquarterback John Wolford is expected to miss two weeks because of appendicitis.

Wolford had his appendix removed Friday after an examination by team doctors after waking up with pain in his side, a Rams spokesperson said.

“John, obviously, caught us a little bit off guard with that news, but obviously we want to get him all fixed up and ready to roll as soon as possible,” offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell said.

Wolford started the NFC wild-card playoff game at Seattle this past season after impressing coach Sean McVay with his mobility and willingness to throw down the field in the regularseason finale against Arizona, filling in for thenRams starter Jared Goff because of a dislocated thumb sustained in a Week 16 loss against the Seahawks.

Wolford sustained a neck injury late in the first quarter and was replaced by Goff.