Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired wide receiver DK Metcalf this offseason with the hopes he could bring some much-needed big-play ability to their offense. However, Metcalf thinks another player on the Steelers roster is going to do the same alongside him this season.
That is Calvin Austin III. The shifty receiver out of Memphis turned heads in Year 3 with the Steelers last season. This season could be a breakout year for the Memphis native.
“[Calvin Austin III’s] a jitterbug out there. He’s explosive as heck,” Metcalf said. “So just looking forward to lining up with him for the rest of these last couple days of camp and then moving onto training camp, and then just starting to work off each other in different route concepts.”
Only time will tell if Austin can take his game to another level in 2025, but Metcalf wasn’t the only person who thinks that is going to happen.
Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni also foresees a much bigger role for Austin in Year 4.
“I think that No. 2 spot is all Calvin’s right now,” Azzanni said. “Really, him and DK are such different players that there’s going to be plays that he is the one guy because that’s his route, and vice versa, because they’re so different.”
Pittsburgh has been looking to add another wide receiver since trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys last month. But if Austin can continue making strides this summer like Metcalf and Azzanni believe he will, the team’s search may be over sooner rather than later.
“I think that No. 2 spot is all Calvin [Austin III]’s right now,” Azzanni said. “Really, him and DK [Metcalf] are such different players that there’s going to be plays that he is the one guy because that’s his route, and vice versa, because they’re so different.”
Austin isn’t letting his semi-breakout season slow him down, either.
“Not glamouring over last year. I remember the fact that I’m a walk on,” Austin said. “I have notes in my phone, texts and stuff. I remember people didn’t think I would be here. My family, my dad, some of my coaches were the only people to believe in me. So that’s what really is my motivation year after year and is why going into this season, it’s not anything different or new for me.”
That has Azzanni as excited as ever for his overlooked unit.
“Everyone’s downplaying, underplaying our group right now,” Azzanni said. “I love it that way. I don’t really want anyone looking at us, anyway.”
Austin is also hearing people doubt the receivers room. That’s why he plans to keep his head down just as he always has and prove his doubters wrong.
“All I know is working,” Austin said. “I feel like that speaks to the core of me and why I feel like just, in general, I’ve never reached a point to where I’m like, ‘OK, I think I’m doing pretty good.’ There’s always something more...
