During the television broadcast of the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, the topic of why Georgia tight end Darnell Washington hadn’t been drafted came up. The broadcast team indicated there were some medical concerns over a knee injury and his availability.
Just a few minutes later the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Washington and when Washington spoke to the media he made sure to clarify the situation with his knee.
“Some teams had concerns with knees because I’m taller and a bigger guy, Washington said. “They talked about some knee swelling. For me, I had no injury with my knees ever, knock on wood. I never tore anything in the knees. I had knee surgery on the right knee, but that was just cartilage that flaked up, they went in and cleaned it.”
Washington is serving double duty for the Steelers as he not only brings an athletic force in the passing game with his physical gifts but he is also the top blocking tight end in the draft and will help power the run game as well. There’s no doubt the Steelers wouldn’t have gone near Washington in the third round or any other round if they felt like the situation with his knee was a concern.
