Every player entering the NFL has a moment when they realize how much higher the level of competition is. For Darnell Washington, he didn’t even get out of training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers before learning the difference between college and the NFL. That’s probably because TJ Watt, one of the best players in the league, threw him straight into the fire.

“When it first hit, it was camp and we did a drill called ‘Grab Grass’ and I went against TJ (Watt),” Washington said recently on The Arthur Moats Experience. “It wasn’t pass protection. It’s a run-blocking instance. He beat me back-to-back-to-back, Coach (Mike Tomlin) had me play (Watt) three times in a row. And when I say he beat me three times in a row, less than a second. I thought, ‘What the hell is going on?’”

Washington is an absolute mammoth of a man. Coming out of the draft, he stood at almost 6-7′ and over 260 pounds. In college, he probably didn’t have many players who beat him three straight times in a row. Watt is a different breed, though, and he’s not just a pass rusher. He’s also an elite defender, a fact Washington learned that day.

It’s probably better that Washington had that experience in camp, rather than in an actual game. The coaches probably knew he wouldn’t see many players better than Watt. As a rookie, I had nowhere to go but up from there.

After taking significant snaps as a rookie, but especially as a blocking TE, Washington has been a much bigger presence on offense. He’s still not a big receiving threat, but his blocking has improved a lot. He struggled somewhat against Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, but he wasn’t overpowered. Crosby is one of the few players close to Watt’s level, so all that preparation in camp likely paid off.

This week, Washington will have to help the Steelers against a tough New York Jets defense. Edge rusher Will McDonald IV may not be Crosby or Watt, but he’s still very good. The Jets defense as a whole is a strong unit, so Washington will likely have a physical day ahead of it. However, they don’t have Watt on their side, which should give Washington some comfort. Anything less than the best should feel like a breath of fresh air.