James Washington becomes 3rd Steelers receiver to depart, signs with Cowboys

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James Washington becomes 3rd Steelers receiver to depart, signs with Cowboys

Joe Rutter | Friday, March 18, 2022 7:35 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) spins wide receiver James Washington (13) on his shoulders after Washington caught a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Both players left the Steelers in free agency on March 18, 2022.

James Washington is going back to his home state.

Washington is leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers after four seasons, agreeing to a one-year contract Friday with the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington was born in Stamford, Texas, and he attended college at Oklahoma State and was the Steelers’ second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

He became the third wide receiver to depart the Steelers in two days, joining Ray-Ray McCloud (San Francisco) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (Kansas City).

Washington, who turns 26 in April, was the least utilized member of a receiving quartet that included Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Even when Smith-Schuster was injured in Week 5, Washington’s role didn’t significantly increase.

He finished the season with 24 receptions, the second-fewest in his career, for 285 yards and two touchdowns. He played 47% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps.

Washington had 44 catches for 735 yards in 2019, and he caught five touchdown passes the following season on 30 receptions for 392 yards.

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