The cloud that is replacing Antonio Brown is still hanging over the Steelers. But a glimpse at relief may have been seen in Pittsburgh’s 17-7 win over the Chiefs Saturday night at Heinz Field.
Second-year wideout James Washington, plus rookies Diontae Johnson and Diontae Spencer, all had strong showings.
Washington caught four passes for 78 yards, Johnson caught three for 46 yards and a touchdown. Spencer did not record a catch, but did take an end-around carry for 19 yards and had a pair of punt returns, including a shifty 38-yarder.
But it was Washington, who caught four passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over the Bucs, who against raised eyebrows as a possible partner across the field from JuJu Smith-Schuster.
“I’m just trying to be consistent and show the coaches that I can do things to help the team win,” said Washington, who kickstarted a sputtering Steelers offense with a 22-yard reception from Mason Rudolph.
“The game was going pretty slow so, on the sideline, guys were saying we just need that one play to get the offense going.”
Interestingly, Johnson and Spencer got the punt return nods over Ryan Switzer, who held the position last season. Standing out in the receiving game is important, but adding a special teams dimension is gravy.
“Any position I’m at is all about making plays and trying to be successful,” Spencer said. “That’s not my job to determine, but if I can go out there and make plays, it’s always a positive.”
After not playing last week due to injury, Johnson had a touchdown taken off the board, flagged for a controversial pass interference penalty that was reviewed and upheld. He also returned three punts, but to less success than Spencer, including a muffed punt that he was able to recover.
“I’ve just got to come back and get ready for next week and handle that in practice so it won’t happen again,” he said.
Johnson drew a slew of comparisons to Antonio Brown, thanks to combine measurable and their time spent as pass catchers and special teamers in the MAC. Both are 5-foot-10 and both ran comparable 40-yard dashes at the combine. Brown, like Johnson, had three catches and touchdown in his preseason debut.
“He did really good,” Washington said of Johnson, a third-round pick in this year’s draft. ”For his debut, getting out there, he looked real explosive and he was making plays.”
Putting aside emotions in an NFL debut can be tough. Just ask Spencer, who was a standout in the CFL before joining the Steelers this offseason.
“Last week was my first NFL game,” he said. “It took me a while to get here. A lot of emotions were running through my head. This week things started to slow down and I was kind of myself a little bit. Just going out there and playing fast, not thinking too much.”
The emotional and mental side of trying to make the team and preparing for Kansas City took a massive blow this week when the team tragically lost wide receiver coach Darryl Drake, who died Sunday morning.
“That was my guy when I first met him,” said Johnson, who received glowing reviews from Drake at the Draft. “We clicked as soon as we met each other. After that, there was no separating us. He was with me here today. Every play.”
“He would always tell me that you belong in this league and you’ve got to believe that,” Spencer added. “I feel like I came out here and wasn’t thinking too much, just trying to make plays.”
Drake’s presence could be felt. From a pregame team prayer, to a moment of silence, to customized hoodies worn by the receivers, featuring Drake’s motto for this season, “Shut Out The Noise.”
“That’s the motto all year long,” Washington said. “That and ‘don’t accept good when great is available.’”
And 'great' is exactly what the Steelers need to replace.