Patriots DC Calls Darnell Washington 'A Big One' Ahead Of Steelers Matchup
steelersdepot · September 17, 2026
Key takeaways
- Patriots DC Zak Kuhr called Darnell Washington 'a big one' when discussing Steelers offensive matchup problems.
- Kuhr praised Washington's size, strength, and route versatility, noting he's not just a checkdown option anymore.
- Washington's expanding role as a vertical threat forces defenses to choose between stopping the run or covering the pass.
The Praise Is Piling Up
Darnell Washington isn't just a run-blocking specialist anymore, and opposing defenses are starting to say it out loud. Patriots defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr didn't mince words this week when asked about the Steelers tight end, calling him "a big one" when it comes to defensive challenges. That's not coachspeak fluff — that's a coordinator building his entire game plan around one player's mismatch potential.
Why Washington Is A Problem
Kuhr broke down exactly what makes Washington so tough to handle: elite size, real strength, and athleticism that doesn't fit the typical tight end mold. He's a load in the run game, sure, but the bigger issue for defenses is that he's no longer just a checkdown safety valve. Kuhr specifically noted the Steelers are willing to send him vertical and run any route in the tree with him — meaning linebackers and safeties can't just sit back and wait for a five-yard dump-off.
That versatility is the real story here. A tight end who can maul at the point of attack AND threaten downfield forces a defense to declare its hand before the snap. Do you play a bigger body to handle the run? Do you play a faster safety to match his speed on verticals? Either way, someone's compromised.
The Two-Catch Game Doesn't Tell The Story
Washington only hauled in two catches in Week 1, which on paper looks quiet. But raw stat lines rarely capture what a tight end like this actually does to a defense's structure. Coordinators watch the tape, not just the box score, and what Kuhr saw on film was enough to make Washington a featured topic in his pregame media session — days before the Steelers even show up in New England.
What It Means Going Forward
This kind of respect from an opposing coordinator is a signal flare for Steelers fans. Washington's emergence as a legitimate mismatch weapon — not just a blocking tight end who occasionally catches a pass — changes how Pittsburgh's offense can be built. If defenses have to dedicate extra resources to him, that opens up space elsewhere for the run game and other receivers. Expect Kuhr's comments to be the first of many from opposing staffs this season as Washington's role continues to expand.
Why it matters
When opposing coordinators start publicly game-planning around your tight end, it's a sign he's become a true offensive weapon. For Steelers fans, this is proof Washington's role is evolving beyond blocking duty into a full-fledged mismatch threat.
Want deals on what you love?
Val finds local offers matched to your interests — free to start.
Meet Val