With JuJu Smith-Schuster out, Duck Hodges in, and the Steelers’ playoff hopes on the line, James Washington picked the ideal time to have a breakout game.
The second-year wideout hauled in all four passes thrown his way versus the Browns, for a career-best 111 yards. And they weren’t just catches — they were explosive, improbable and spectacular. He made a contested, toe-tapping catch. He snagged a deep TD pass, despite getting tackled to the ground before the ball arrived. And he burned a former top-five NFL pick at corner for good measure. He was everything the Steelers hoped for when they selected him out of Oklahoma State with the 60th overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Washington’s big game and strong 2019 season are even more remarkable when you consider the depths to which he had fallen last year. After an historically bad rookie year, Washington has the look of another shrewd wide receiver draft pick for the Steelers beyond the first round.
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