Steelers Now
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed in a recent article that the Pittsburgh Steelers are very high on wide receiver Calvin Austin III. After a career-high year in 2024, the Steelers believe Austin has the potential to be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver.
“While we’re there, the Steelers think more highly of Calvin Austin III than people realize. He’d be a name to watch with Pickens gone,” Breer wrote.
The Steelers had high hopes for third-year slot receiver Calvin Austin III when they drafted then 5-foot-8 wide receiver and return man out of Memphis in 2022.
Things took a long detour from there, as a Lisfranc sprain in his foot cost Austin his entire rookie year. In 2023, he played in all 17 games and mad one start, catching 17 passes for 180 yards and one long touchdown. He was more used as a runner of jet sweeps, where he had 11 carries for 57 yards, than he was as a primary receiving target.
He finished the 2023 season eighth on the team in targets, fourth among receivers behind George Pickens, Johnson and Allen Robinson and also behind running backs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris and tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward.
But in 2024, slowly by surely, Austin showcased that he can be a playmaker.
Austin is coming off having a career-high 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. Austin also returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the Steelers’ Week 8 win over the New York Giants. In addition, Pittsburgh is still believed to be high on 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson, who had 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final year at Michigan. Wilson was out for nearly all of last season due to several injuries.
Breer wrote in a previous article that he thinks the Steelers want to get another look at some of their younger players before signing a free agent or making a trade,” Breer explained. “The Steelers are higher on Calvin Austin III than the general public realizes. He’s dynamite with the ball in his hands, and progressed steadily in his first year under OC Arthur Smith. There’s also 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson, whose rookie year was beset by injury.”
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Don’t Count Out Calvin Austin III for Steelers WR2 Role
