AAF Week 6 Review: Former Steelers WR L’Damien Washington among standout performers

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We take a look back at the sixth week of action from the Alliance of American Football and check in with some former members of the Black and Gold.

The inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football crossed the halfway mark over the weekend, but while the action on the field should have been the headline in Week 6, it was the inexplicable signing of Johnny Manziel by the Memphis Express on Saturday that grabbed all the attention.

Barred from signing with anyone in the CFL after he was released by the Montreal Alouettes only a few weeks ago, the quarterback who could lay claim to being arguably the worst first-round pick at his position since JaMarcus Russell in 2007, might actual become the starter in Week 7 after former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Zach Mettenberger was injured on the first snap of game against the Salt Lake Stallions.

Week 6 results:

Arizona Hotshots 22 @ Orlando Apollos 17

Memphis Express 9 @ Salt Lake Stallions 22

Birmingham Iron 32 @ San Diego Fleet 29

San Antonio Commanders 37 @ Atlanta Legends 6

The Orlando Apollos were the final team to lose their undefeated tag this season, losing as 9.5-point favorites to the Arizona Hotshots at home, while the Birmingham Iron stopped a two game skid with a last second field goal to beat the San Diego Fleet on the road. The San Antonio Commanders continue to improve as division leaders, recording a convincing away win over the Atlanta Legends.

Former Pittsburgh linebacker Steven Johnson was once again leading the way for the Hotshots in their surprising win over the Apollos, recording eight tackles and an impressive interception in a four-point victory.

L’Damian Washington was only ever on the Steelers’ roster for five months in 2015 and never made it to training camp after injuring himself in May of that year, but he showed fans the sort of potential that drew Pittsburgh to him in the first place on Sunday night with a dominant performance for the Iron against the Fleet. Washington would finish the game with 158 yards from 10 receptions and score two touchdowns, a stat line that included an 83-yard score midway through the second quarter.

Teammate Jamar Summers, another AAF player with links to the Steelers, once again demonstrated why he deserves another shot in the NFL with another strong showing that included his third interception of the season.

Running back Terrell Watson had a better day against the Iron that he did against the Stallions in Week 5, but his modest total of 38 yards from eight carries and a touchdown was still not enough for San Diego against Birmingham. Watson would also have a receiving touchdown in the game.

Fellow former Steelers running back Trey Williams would finish the day with 32 yards on six attempts for San Antonio, a far better game than his efforts the weekend before. And another familiar name for Pittsburgh fans in tight end Cameron Clear led the Commanders in receiving yards and receptions against Atlanta for the first time this year, recording five catches for 45 yards in the team’s 37-6 win.

Darnell Leslie, signed by the Steelers to a futures contract in 2018, also led San Antonio in tackles against the Legends with six and recorded his first forced fumble of the season.

Highlights from all the weekend’s action can be found below.

Week 6 Highlights:

Arizona Hotshots 22 @ Orlando Apollos 17

Memphis Express 9 @ Salt Lake Stallions 22

Birmingham Iron 32 @ San Diego Fleet 29

San Antonio Commanders 37 @ Atlanta Legends 6