Ex-Penn State WR Making Strong Impression on His QB During Camp

Former Penn State Football standout and current Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has a big fan in his quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Washington, chosen in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft is off to a fast start during his second NFL training camp.

“Parker Washington has looked great,” Lawrence recently told reporters. “We’ve talked about it before. From last year to this year, it’s such an improvement how he’s played. For him to have a full offseason where he’s healthy has been good for him, too.”

The early stages of Washington’s NFL career have been a bit of a battle against injuries.

Washington, of course, missed Penn State’s Rose Bowl appearance after suffering an ankle injury, and then missed four weeks of his rookie campaign after injuring his knee.

However, the five-foot-10 and 212-pound wideout still contributed quality snaps as a rookie and wound up catching 16 passes for 132 yards and a pair of scores.

Lawrence says he thinks Washington has been one of the brightest stars of Jags camp, so far.

“He kind of started off injured,” Lawrence pointed out. “It was hard for him to get going. He went straight into training camp, didn’t have OTAs [because of his ankle injury]. So, to see him this year, it’s been cool to see his transformation and how good he looks.”

Parker Washington Could See Expanded Role in Trevor Lawrence’s Arsenal

Penn State Football — Penn State Nittany Lions Wide Receiver Parker Washington (3) runs with the ball after making a catch during the first half of the College Football game between the Auburn Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 18, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Even though the Jaguars selected Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU early in this spring’s NFL Draft, there is a legitimate opportunity for Washington to climb the depth chart and Lawrence’s target hierarchy.

As the preseason slate gets underway, Washington is listed as the Jaguars’ No. 4 wide receiver, behind the likes of Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Thomas Jr.

“I’ve been really impressed,” Lawrence says. “He’s a guy that you see him and he’s a slot receiver, but he’s played outside, he’s moved around, and he can kind of do everything. And, he’s great after the catch.”

During his career in Happy Valley, Washington caught 146 passes for 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns, but could be on the cusp of catching on in a big way in Jacksonville.