It was a good weekend for pass-catching Dawgs in the NFL. We saw impact performances, players who couldn’t be tackled, and running backs who could line up anywhere on the field. Like the Georgia offense and defense last Saturday, let’s start fast.
From the moment he took his first snaps as a freshman in 2020, it was obvious that Darnell Washington was going to be a problem for opposing defenses. Every time he had the ball in his hands, an “ooh” or “ahh” moment was all but guaranteed to happen. Incredible hurdles, big-time stiff arms, and his unfair mismatches made him an electric player in Athens.
This past Sunday, the now Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end showed once again why he is one of the most dominant players in football. He had three SportsCenter top 10 moments on just one play, as he made defenders for the Cincinnati Bengals look silly.
Washington would finish with four catches for 67 yards as the Steelers would go on to win the game 34-12.
Over in Darnell’s hometown of Las Vegas, wide receiver George Pickens continued his impressive 2025 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys. Pickens hauled in nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in a 33-16 victory over the Raiders. This was Pickens’ third game this season with over 100 receiving yards. He and teammate Ceedee Lamb are making a case for being the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. Like his former teammate Darnell Washington, Pickens also had a play in which he refused to be brought down by Raider defenders.
Over in Buffalo, running back James Cook had a big day in the Bills’ 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cook rushed for 48 yards, but his impact was felt in the passing game. He caught three Josh Allen passes for 66 yards, with one of them going for a touchdown.
These were some of the impact Dawgs this week. Tune in next week to see what some of your favorite former Dawgs were up to in the league.
