PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In the first practice since reports that James Washington wanted a trade because of lack of opportunities. Nothing appeared different with how the fourth year receiver interacted with teammates. He went through a full practice and made a couple of nice catches.
While it appeared Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin had heard about the ESPN story, he questioned its validity.
“He has not,” Tomlin said when asked if Washington had expressed dissatisfaction with his role or asked to be traded. “Those unnamed sources we don’t react to or respond to. James has been great here working and having a great camp.”
“James Washington is awesome,” said Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. “He comes to work every day. He’s a great guy to be around. He hasn’t said a word to me. He just plays hard every day and practices hard every day. I’m a huge fan of James. I really am.”
Washington caught a fade from college teammate Mason Rudolph Saturday and watching the excitement from his teammates, there are no issues there. On a few series of 11-on-11 drills, Washington was the fifth receiver out after JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and Ray-Ray McCloud.
“It’s frustrating, honestly not getting those reps,” said quarterback Josh Dobbs understanding the lack of opportunities. “At the end of the day, that’s what you do it for. You do it for the opportunity to go on the field and compete. When you are not always given the opportunities to fully show your capabilities. You are not really put in an ideal situation.”
“You have to maximize the ones that are in front of you and just wait for the time when you are getting the reps and put in those situations to succeed and play at the highest level.”
“I think he has a good role with us,” Canada said. “We are really talented in that room right now. Certain games there are different matchups, certain things happen. James is a big part of what we do. He will continue to have a role with us.”