When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Chase Claypool in April, it was only a matter of who would be the odd man out in the talented wide receiver room.
Turns out, it’s James Washington.
Since his season-high 68 yards on four receptions (seven targets) and a touchdown, Washington’s snap average is just 27 percent.
And why wouldn’t Ben want the third-year receiver on the field more? Washington has been highly productive in the small 23-reception sampling. His 60.5 catch percentage is a career-high.
As for Roethlisberger, his passer rating when targeting Washington is 96.7. It would be higher if not for Week 11 — Washington caught just one of three targets and was picked on one of them. Otherwise, Roethlisberger’s rating is a solid 84 percent when Washington is on the receiving end of his throws, including four games of 119+.
We all remember that critical catch Washington made on a 3rd-and-6 versus the Ravens with 2:36 remaining. You know, the one Ben threw into tight coverage and from the camera angle looked like a certain pick-six. The game would’ve had a different outcome if it was. Instead, the catch allowed the Steelers to run out to clock for a win.
Roethlisberger said in a press conference on Friday that he has ‘1,000 percent confidence in Washington and that he would make that catch. “I wouldn’t have thrown it if I didn’t believe in him,” said Ben. “Maybe I would have put a little more zip on it, make it a little easier on him.”
“When you give a guy a chance to make a play and he makes it, and he makes it over and over, then that man should continue to get opportunities,” Roethlisberger said. “I think he will continue to get opportunities, as he should because he puts the work, the time, the conditioning, the mental aspect of it. He deserves to get on the field more, and I think we will see him.”
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