Daryl Washington would like some payback on Jerome Simpson

Jerome Simpson was not exactly a household name before his Bengals faced off against the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 16 matchup last season.

He’s still not, as the 26-year-old has caught just four passes for 50 yards this season.

Now a Viking, Simpson is best-known for a touchdown he scored his team’s 23-16 win over the Cardinals last season, a 19-yard catch-and-run that finished with the receiver leaping over Arizona linebacker Daryl Washington en route to the end zone.

It was worth six points on the scoreboard, but the judges gave Simpson an 8.5 (he didn’t exactly stick the landing).

The play can be seen below:

At any rate, Washington has not forgotten about that play, which has certainly put him on the highlight reels for years to come. No, the third-year pro who has emerged as one of the NFL’s better linebackers remembers the play, and wouldn’t mind getting a little bit of payback, so to speak.

“Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to it,” Washington said Friday when asked about facing Simpson again. “If he plays, he plays. If he doesn’t, then oh well.

“But if he plays I’ll be sure to get back at him.”

Simpson is listed as “probable” on the Vikings’ injury report with a lower back ailment. That designation means there is a virtual certainty he’ll be active Sunday, which should give Washington his shot to get a shot or two in.

“I want to go out there and play as hard as I can, hopefully I can get some good shots on him if he does play,” he said. “Maybe I can catch him on a slant or, you know, just an open-field or something like that.”

Washington made sure to note that the important thing is the Cardinals getting a win, but there’s little doubt he would like to get back on the highlight reel with Simpson, only this time be the one making the play.

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