A trimmer James Washington hopes to have bigger impact with Steelers in 2019

Last season wasn’t exactly one to remember for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington. The then-rookie came in as the team’s second-round pick with plenty of fanfare but failed to deliver. Washington appeared in 14 games, starting six of them, but only hauled in 16 receptions on the season.

Now ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting Washington has trimmed down this offseason in hopes of making a more significant impact in 2019. Fowler noted the Steelers would like to see him play at around 210 pounds.

The Steelers expect their draft picks to make significant conditioning leaps in year two, and James Washington should be latest example. I’m told he has slimmed down this offseason. The Steelers like him around 210 pounds, and he should be on the mark in 2019.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 9, 2019

Here’s recent shot of Washington in a photo shoot during OTAs.

#Steelers WR James Washington (@JamesWashington) donning the team’s Throwback uniform for a photoshoot with Team Photographer Karl Roser (@karlroser) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex pic.twitter.com/HkEzHopvvF

— Dom Rinelli (@drinelli) May 9, 2019

Washington came into the league at 213 pounds. It’s what he weighed at the NFL scouting combine and what the team listed him at all year. Now, we understand a player’s weight will fluctuate over the course of 17 weeks; some guys lose weight over the course of the season while others gain it.

If Washington was having weight issues that were perhaps impacting his conditioning and speed, I could see where his opportunities would be limited. Hopefully Washington is going to remain committed to his fitness as he learns how important it is to succeed at this level.