Steelers’ big-bodied star bulldozes Bengals in career-best performance

The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 6-4 this week, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 34-12. The defense rightfully deserves much of the praise, allowing just 297 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The offense was nothing to write home about overall, but they made the plays needed to help take the pressure off the defense.

Backup running back Kenneth Gainwell had a huge day as a receiver, with seven receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns. But no player on the offense had as big an impact as big-bodied tight end Darnell Washington.

Washington set a new career high with 67 yards on four receptions against the Bengals. That stat line doesn't look like anything special on the surface, but it was a truly dominant overall performance.

Darnell Washington has his breakout game for Pittsburgh Steelers against Bengals

Washington is somewhat of a unicorn in the modern NFL. He is a true do-it-all tight end, with the size to be a dominant blocker and the hands and speed to be a weapon as a receiver. The blocking part of his game has been well utilized throughout his career, but getting him going in the passing game has been a tougher challenge.

He managed just 26 receptions for 261 yards and a single touchdown over his first two seasons, never eclipsing even 50 yards in a game. Thanks to added emphasis from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get him the ball, he already has two games with over 60 yards through 10 games this season.

He could easily double his career receiving numbers by season's end, and it's fair to wonder if he could have been used more frequently before this season.

Washington is not a typical receiving tight end, however, as he is reportedly over 300 pounds at this point. He looks more like a left tackle than a traditional tight end, and his size causes him to lack the fluidity and quickness that the game's top receiving threats possess. That makes him a bit of a niche weapon, best utilized on jump balls and run after catch situations.

His explosive catch and run against the Bengals demonstrated his unique talents.

Nobody that big should be able to do that. Bengals defenders had no answers for him when he caught the ball in space, as he would just run right through them with ease.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith needs to find a way to get the ball to him more consistently, if for no other reason than so fans can see him do stuff like this week every week. With no reliable receiver aside from DK Metcalf, why not just lean into the big man and see where it takes you? Even if it doesn't end up solving the Steelers' offensive issues, it will almost certainly be fun to watch.