The latest Steelers injury report says fans will have to wait until at least October 9 to see one of their newest wide receivers in action.
Electric wideout Calvin Austin III was placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Thursday. This shortens his rookie season by at least four games. Austin has been dealing with a lingering foot injury throughout training camp. This injury kept him from seeing his first taste of NFL gameplay during the preseason.
Austin will not be ready for the season opener in Cincinnati. He will also be unavailable versus the Patriots, Browns, and Jets, but can return for the game in Buffalo on October 9. His replacement is Steven Simms, a receiver who showed flashes of excellence in Austin’s absence. The Steelers injury report also notes that safety Damontae Kazee joins Austin on IR.
Who is Calvin Austin III?
Austin certainly made an impact in practice when he was healthy. Early on in training camp, while working with the backup offense, Austin turned a screen pass from QB Mason Rudolph into a 64-yard house call. He made a few other plays in camp that created lofty expectations from Pittsburgh fans.
Austin was a 4th-round pick out of Memphis where he was a walk-on. After going over 1,000 yards in both seasons, he was named first team all-AAC in his junior and senior years. He was also a second team All-American track star in 2019. This speed was desirable enough to turn him into Pittsburgh’s second wide receiver selection in the first four rounds of the 2022 NFL draft.
Austin’s 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine makes him one of the fastest Steelers drafted since the disastrous Dri Archer experiment. You remember that guy, Steelers fans, don’t you? Here’s hoping that, come week 5, Austin’s productivity leaves Archer comparisons in the dust.
Image credit goes to Steelers.com.
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1 Comment
Good article, i like how this guy writes. Looking forward to more from him hopefully. Go Steelers!