Darnell Washington’s Week 2 availability is suddenly a question for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and not because of an injury. On Thursday, Washington was absent from practice because of a personal issue, leaving his status uncertain for Sunday’s trip to face the New England Patriots in Foxborough.
That matters because Washington is more than a depth piece in this offense. The Steelers were already looking at him as someone who could help against a strong Patriots defense, and Week 2 could bring more multi-tight end sets. If Washington is available, that gives Pittsburgh another way to shape the game plan. If he is not, it trims a useful option in a matchup where formation versatility could matter.
Why this is different from the other practice notes
The rest of the injury report told a more familiar story. Troy Fautanu missed time on Wednesday with an ankle injury, then returned to practice on Thursday. Michael Pittman Jr. was limited on Wednesday because of a foot injury. Washington’s situation is separate from that pattern because he is not dealing with an injury, which makes the uncertainty more open-ended but also potentially less alarming.
Farabaugh said Washington’s personal issue had already been clarified and added that he was not at practice again on Thursday. The general expectation in those situations, according to that update, is that players are usually able to suit up. That does not guarantee Washington will play, but it does suggest the Steelers are still treating this as a possible short-term absence rather than a long-term concern.
There is also recent context working in Washington’s favor. In Week 1, he helped create a rush lane late in the game to seal the victory, a reminder that his value is not limited to receiving production. He can affect the run game, the structure of the offense and the way a defense has to line up before the snap. That is exactly why his presence or absence is worth watching this week.
For now, the key question is simple: will Darnell Washington be back for practice, and will that be enough to clear him for Sunday? The Steelers do not need more uncertainty heading into New England, but they may have to wait a little longer before they know whether one of their more flexible pieces will be available.
