Steelers’ James Washington on struggles: 'Just stay confident’

After not having a catch and only having one pass thrown his direction in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most recent game, James Washington’s season stat line through four weeks sits at six receptions on 15 targets for 88 yards and no touchdowns.

So much for that jump coach Mike Tomlin likes to talk about second-year players making. But Washington vows to keep the faith.

“I just have got to stay positive,” the 2018 second-round pick said, “and make the plays that come my way.”

The Steelers had high hopes for Washington coming off a rookie season in which he was a healthy scratch twice and finished with 16 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. This season, despite playing about three-quarters of the Steelers’ offensive snaps, Washington has not caught any more than two passes in any game.

Kevin Gorman: Steelers need James Washington to build on preseason performance

(Via TribLive) https://t.co/hMq0XqvFPL

— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) August 10, 2019

He had a 45-yard catch in the opener at New England, and he drew a 32-yard pass interference flag in a Week 3 loss to San Francisco, but he has no other plays that have netted more than 12 yards.

“I work. I try to just do my best and do whatever I can do to help this team win, to be honest,” Washington said.

Although the Steelers’ passing game has taken a hit with the season-ending injury to Ben Roethlisberger, Washington had a long-established connection with Mason Rudolph dating to four years together at Oklahoma State. It was a rapport that regularly displayed itself in training camp and preseason games, but in 2 ½ games with Rudolph as the quarterback, Washington has three catches for 25 yards.

“You know, just got to keep working,” Washington said. “It’ll happen. Just stay confident in everybody on this team and trust that everything that happens, happens for a reason.”

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