Colts Sign Former Steelers Starting WR in Trio of Moves

The Indianapolis Colts have had a busy Friday. The team announced they signed former Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver James Washington, waived receiver Malik Turner and placed defensive end Genard Avery on injured reserve.

The move to injured reserve ends the 2023 season for Avery before it officially got started.

Another receiver was needed after Ashton Dulin suffered a season-ending injury. Washington was originally a second-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Oklahoma State in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

He started six games as a rookie in Pittsburgh and had 16 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. He had his best season as a pro the following season when he hauled in 44 catches for 735 yards and three touchdowns.

His numbers dropped in 2020 to 30 catches, but he had a career high five touchdowns. 

The Steelers elected not to re-sign him once his rookie contract expired, and he spent the 2022 season with the Dallas Cowboys. After starting 25 games with the Steelers, Washington saw action in just two games with the Cowboys.

He was most recently in camp with the New Orleans Saints, but he was released earlier this week.

Built like a running back at 5'11 and 212 pounds coming out of Oklahoma State, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein had this to say of Washington as a draft prospect.

Washington is a top-heavy receiver with dangerous build-up speed who has a three year history of hitting chunk plays thanks to his speed and ball tracking. Washington is more gradual than sudden with check marks in the vertical categories but minuses in categories like route running and hands. Washington has the potential to compete as a WR2 for a team looking to stretch the field. His limitations and dependence upon his quarterback's deep ball accuracy makes the chasm between his ceiling and floor a little wider. -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

The Colts are in action against the Chicago Bears on Saturday evening in Indianapolis. Washington isn't likely to see any action in this game, but he could have a chance to impress in the final preseason game of the year next week in Philadelphia.