Why Darnell Washington has become the Steelers' X factor - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Darnell Washington vividly remembers the youth football practice where he hurdled his first defender.

A perpetual outlier among his peers since a third-grade growth spurt, Washington towered over the defender opposite him in the Oklahoma drill. As he strategized his approach before the whistle, Washington got an idea.

«I'm going to just hurdle him,» he thought.

And that's just what he did.

«It felt amazing just passing somebody without getting touched because I never juke, so I can't say, 'Oh, I juked somebody clean and just kept running,»' Washington said. «I know I don't do that. So even back then, it's a similar game plan, at least for me. Stiff arm, lower the shoulder or hurdle.»

Nearly two decades later, Washington's size advantage and moves are the same, but the stage is not. Now checking in at 6-foot-7 and officially listed at 264 pounds, but realistically closer to 300 pounds, the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end is making a name for himself with highlight-reel hurdles and stiff arms against the unlucky defensive backs tasked with slowing him down.

Thursday night, the 25-year-old will have an opportunity to add another chapter to his legendary lore in the Steelers' first primetime matchup of the season against the Cleveland Browns (8:15 ET, Amazon Prime).

Washington, though, is more than a viral clip. He's the X factor of the Steelers offense as a sure-handed pass catcher, practically untackleable runner and selfless blocker.

The stats support Washington's impact, too. The Steelers are 13-2 when Washington plays at least 40 offensive snaps. When he plays fewer than 40 snaps on offense, the team's record drops to 18-22. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that Washington played 47 snaps in the Steelers' 30-27