Washington provides peek at what Year 2 could hold
If the Steelers are going to make up for the lost production of Antonio Brown, they got a good look at a perfect candidate to help them in their preseason opener. And he was no surprise. The Steelers have been watching receiver James Washington make acrobatic plays and tough catches in practice almost since they drafted him in the second round in 2018. But they have been waiting to see it in games that matter.
Granted, the Steelers’ 3028 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday night at Heinz Field was
only the first of four preseason games, but it served as a good appetizer to what they might reasonably expect from Washington in the regular season. In other words, it was a nice tease.
“I would say I’m a lot more comfortable than I was last year,” Washington said. “But it’s just the first preseason game. I just got to keep building off this. I can’t get too high. I just got to stay steady and keep going.”
Washington had four catches for 84 yards on five targets, including a 43-yarder down the middle of the field on the Steelers’ second offensive play of the game, and had a back-shoulder touchdown catch from his former college teammate, Mason Rudolph. He nearly had a dazzling toe-tapping touchdown reception from Rudolph but his left foot nicked the boundary stripe before he tapped his right foot in bounds.
“He’s just a tough guy,” said Rudolph, who played with Washington at Oklahoma State. “In those combative situations, coach [Mike] Tomlin talks about it a lot, he catches those balls with people draped all over him. He has strong hands. He’s done that for a long time. I wasn’t surprised with that.”
It remains to be seen if Washington can carry his opening performance into the regular season. After all, he showed similar glimpses of his ability a year ago in the preseason, particularly when he worked with Rudolph.
But Washington has come to this training camp in better condition, looking more like a wide receiver than a running back, and his teammates have noticed a different confidence level in the 5-foot-11, 213-pound receiver.
“I don’t think he ever disappeared,” Rudolph said. “As far as last year, it’s tough when you have two unbelievable receivers in front of you. He has worked really hard in the offseason, getting himself in physical shape as well as understanding all the receiving spots on the field instead of just his at outside receiver. He’s doing a good job of being in the right spot.”
Maybe Washington is merely picking up where he left off toward the end of last season when he had eight of his 16 catches for 140 yards in the final four regular-season games.
Curiously, that final-quarter production came right after he was criticized by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for leaping and dropping a pass when he could have kept running under the ball, and possibly scored, in a 24-17 loss at Denver.
His performance against Tampa Bay is a nice start to showing the Steelers he can be the type of productive receiver to help compensate for the loss of Brown. More important, it helps build confidence in the coaches and players, he said.
“I would say the game has slowed down a little bit,” Washington said. “I know the playbook and being more of a well-rounded player.”
Late-rounder stands out
One of the most impressive defensive players on the field was rookie inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III, a sixthround draft choice from Akron.
If rookie Devin Bush was the star of the first half, Gilbert assumed that role in the fourth quarter.
He had 1½ sacks, including a strip that resulted in a 10-yard
loss, four quarterback hurries and even intercepted a 2-point conversion pass after the Buccaneers scored to make it 30-22. Gilbert is not very big (6-0, 230), but, like Bush, it was his speed (4.46) that attracted the Steelers as they attempt to get faster in the middle of the field.
Brown’s helmet shipped, too
Unlike what’s happening with the Oakland Raiders and their former troublesome receiver, the Steelers don’t have to worry about any of their players wanting to use their old helmets. They are all gone from the equipment room.
But, after they traded Brown to Oakland, the Steelers sent his old helmet to the Raiders at his request, according to a team source.
The Raiders painted his helmet silver and black, even though he could no longer wear it because it wasn’t conforming with the league’s new approved helmets. Now Brown is threatening to sit out the season if he can’t wear his old helmet.
And some people thought the Steelers got fleeced by only getting a third- and fifth-round choice for him?
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@postgazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac.