Injured Washington bets on self, pursues NFL
Mar. 25—STATE COLLEGE — Standing on the sidelines, watching teammates run three-cone shuttles and 40-yard dashes isn't how Parker Washington pictured his Pro Day.
As he recovers from the leg injury that cost him the final two games of the 2022 regular season and the Rose Bowl though, that's the position he found himself in during Penn State's pro day at Holuba Hall.
Yet, the 5-foot-10 Texan who led the Nittany Lions with 611 yards receiving last season despite the missed time has no regrets about his decision to not return for his senior season.
"I'm in a good place right now," he said.
Washington said the injury has only recently allowed him to start running again, but while he was invited and did attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month, he didn't do any drills or sprints for coaches and scouts. He was an onlooker at Penn State's pro day, too.
He has talked with NFL teams about potential roles, insisting he'd be comfortable in the slot, outside and even taking snaps out of the backfield. He said he is "real close" to being full strength and believes he'll be 100% by the end of April. Which, of course, is right around the time the draft kicks off from Kansas City on April 27.
He said if he "feels good" and NFL teams want, he'll do workouts and drills then. But said he went into the offseason having made the decision he did, knowing he'd be a nonfactor for the Combine and pro day.
Inside scoop
When defensive tackle PJ Mustipher did his on-field drills for scouts Friday, the man with the whistle looked like he had been there before.
Even if he left a few weeks ago.
John Scott Jr., the former Penn State defensive line coach who recently left the program to accept the same position with the NFL's Detroit Lions, organized the drills for the program and got one last look at Mustipher, the 6-foot-4, 318-pound stalwart who said he feels in the best shape of his career.
Mustipher said he talked to several NFL teams at the Combine a few weeks ago, but he had built a few favorites in his mind from those talks. While he wouldn't share that list, Detroit may just have an in with Scott.
"We've had our conversations," Mustipher smiled. "For him to see me move like that, he was real happy with how I was doing the D-line drills at the Combine, and then again today. So, I'm sure (the conversations) will continue."
Stars are out
Two NFL head coaches — Miami's Mike McDaniel and Chicago's Matt Ebrflus — were on hand at Holuba Hall to watch the festivities. McDaniel, general manager Chris Grier and offensive coordinator Frank Smith led an especially large contingent from that club.
Packers general manager Brian Gutenkunst was there, too. With the Steelers targeting a cornerback and likely first rounder Joey Porter Jr. working out, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin also made the trip.
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