Patriots defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr is already openly calling Steelers tight end Darnell Washington a “big challenge,” and honestly, you love to see an opponent dreading a matchup like this. Kuhr specifically pointed to the fourth-year tight end’s utterly rare combination of size, strength, and pure athleticism, making it clear this dude is a problem New England has to figure out before kickoff. Washington has been steadily locking in his spot as an increasingly vital part of the Steelers’ offense, especially when they’re hammering the ball on the ground.
Size, Strength, and Pure Chaos
When you’re talking about a guy who can dominate at the point of attack as a blocker but then turn around and be a legitimate receiving threat, you’re talking about a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare. Kuhr didn’t mince words, saying, “He’s athletic,” and then, “Obviously, his size and strength are no joke.” That’s the kind of combo that forces defenses to make impossible choices. Imagine trying to scheme against a guy who looks like an extra offensive lineman but moves like a receiver. Kuhr mentioned how Washington’s blocking impact has jumped off the film, and it’s easy to see why. The dude is 6-foot-7, and when he decides to go lay out a defender in the running game, running lanes open up big time. The Steelers might be running a less tight end-heavy offense under new head coach Mike McCarthy, but Washington still played 43 of the team’s 67 total offensive snaps last week. That’s a huge workload and shows just how much they trust him to be on the field.
More Than Just a Road Grader
What makes Washington such a true “conflict piece,” as Kuhr put it, is his versatility. It’s not just the blocking. When this monster gets the ball in his hands, that combo of power and athleticism means tackles get broken. Kuhr even went so far as to emphasize that Washington can make the first defender miss. Think about the pressure that puts on a defense: you can’t just send one guy to bring him down. You need sound tackling, proper technique, and probably two or three guys converging, which opens up everything else on the field. “He’s a great piece to have,” Kuhr said, and you can practically hear the stress in his voice. Washington’s presence before the snap forces New England to hesitate, to guess, to overthink whether he’s going to block, run a route, or just create pure chaos.
This continued development from Washington gives the Steelers another legit weapon to stress out opposing defenses. It’s clear New England sees the big tight end as one of the toughest matchups they’ll face. Last year, Washington didn’t even record a single catch against the Patriots. This year, you know he’s looking to change that stat line big time, and the Pats know it too. It’s going to be a physical battle, and Washington looks ready to make it a memorable one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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