Austin (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns after not practicing this week.
Austin was forced out of a Week 4 win over the Vikings after logging 27 snaps and catching both of his targets for 13 yards, and he'll target a potential return to action next Thursday night against the Bengals. In Austin's absence this weekend, Ben Skowronek, Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson are candidates to see added opportunities behind WR1 DK Metcalf.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Another DNP on Thursday
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Austin (shoulder) remained a non-participant in practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Austin injured his shoulder in Pittsburgh's Week 4 win over the Vikings, and he has now missed the team's first two practices coming out of a Week 5 bye. Head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier in the week that Austin could ramp up his practice participation as the week progresses, but Austin will likely need to practice in some capacity Friday to give himself a chance to suit up for Sunday's game against the Browns.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Misses practice Wednesday
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Austin was a non-participant in Wednesday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Austin is a player who could ramp up his practice activity "toward the latter part of the week," Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports, but it's nonetheless a bad sign to see the wideout absent from practice despite having had a bye to get right. Austin will presumably need to return to practice as at least a limited participant Thursday and/or Friday in order to have a chance at suiting up Sunday versus the Browns.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Limited coming out of bye week
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Austin (shoulder) will be a limited participant in practice to begin Week 6 prep, but the wideout could ramp up his workload later in the week and potentially be ready to play Sunday against the Browns, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Austin was forced out early in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 24-21 win over the Vikings in Dublin in Week 4 due to the shoulder injury, but a Week 5 bye has afforded him some time to heal. Though Tomlin noted that Austin aggressively attacked his rehab over the bye week, the Steelers aren't ready to turn him loose for full contact just yet. However, if Austin is able to advance to full participation Friday in the Steelers' final practice of the week, he should have a good chance at suiting up against Cleveland.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Exits with shoulder injury
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Austin is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Vikings in Dublin due to a shoulder injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Austin checked out of the contest early in the fourth quarter and headed to the locker room after he appeared to land hard on the football while falling to the ground on a reception. If Austin's day is over, he'll finish with two catches for 13 yards on two targets to go with nine yards on two punt returns.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin III: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Austin had three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown on five targets in Week 3 at New England, and he has now scored at least 12.4 PPR points in two of three games this season. Austin is the second-best Fantasy receiver for the Steelers behind DK Metcalf, and Aaron Rodgers can hopefully help Austin maintain value as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues for the rest fof the year. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Finds end zone again
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Austin caught three of five targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-14 win over the Patriots.
The third-year wideout hauled in a 17-yard toss from Aaron Rodgers with a little over two minutes left in the fourth quarter to break a 14-14 tie. Austin has quickly earned the veteran QB's trust, and after scoring five TDs in 34 games through his first two NFL seasons, he already has two in the first three contests of 2025, part of an 8-126-2 line on 15 targets. Austin will look to stay productive in Week 4 against the Vikings.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Struggles against Seattle
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Austin recorded one reception on four targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 31-17 loss to Seattle.
Austin looked like he was starting a breakout season after a strong Week 1 showing, but his performance took a significant dip in Week 2. Beyond the lackluster stat line, he ran the wrong route in the end zone late in the third quarter, with the ball ultimately being picked by Seattle. Austin is likely to continue to earn snaps, but his production will also remain inconsistent.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin III: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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The Steelers need a No. 2 receiver to step up opposite DK Metcalf, and Austin might be that guy after he had four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown on six targets in Week 1 at the Jets. Aaron Rodgers played well against the Jets, and that will hopefully help Austin and all the receivers moving forward. He's probably only worth adding in deeper leagues at this point, but Austin could turn into a No. 3 Fantasy option in all formats if this continues. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Ducks injury report
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Austin (abdomen) isn't listed on the injury report for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Austin was out for most of August but still figures to reprise his 2024 role as the slot man in three-wide formations. Playing time in heavier formations would help his fantasy value, but that may be a big ask for one of the league's smallest players. Austin figures to run a lot of his routes this Sunday against Jets cornerback Michael Carter, who struggled through an injury-plagued 2024 campaign after previously earning a reputation (and contract) as one of the league's top nickelbacks.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: On track for season opener
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he expects Austin (abdomen) to be available for Sunday's season opener versus the Jets, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Austin didn't play in any preseason games while tending to an abdominal injury, but he's apparently made good progress in his recovery over the past few weeks and should be ready to suit up Sunday. Before he's officially cleared for Week 1, he'll likely need to put in a full practice by Friday. Per Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com, the 2022 fourth-round pick is listed as a starter at receiver alongside DK Metcalf in the latest unofficial depth chart. In addition to potentially being limited by the injury and getting pushed for playing time by second-year wideout Roman Wilson, Austin's snap and target counts could be suppressed if the Steelers lean heavily on two-tight end sets featuring Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith (knee).
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Not in uniform Thursday
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Austin (abdomen) isn't suited up ahead of Thursday's preseason game at Carolina, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Austin thus won't play during exhibition season due to an abdominal injury that has lingered since at least Aug. 3. The Steelers tinkered with the top of their receiving corps this offseason by swapping out George Pickens (Dallas) for DK Metcalf (Seattle), but Austin otherwise doesn't have much competition for WR reps behind Metcalf. The 2022 fourth-round pick put together a 36-548-4 line on 58 targets in 17 regular-season games last year.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Limited work Monday
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Austin (abdomen) was limited to sideline work during Monday's training camp practice, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Austin continues to work through an abdominal injury from early August that has forced him to miss the Steelers' first two preseason games. He's unlikely to play in Thursday's exhibition contest against the Panthers, and the third-year wideout's status for the Steelers' regular-season opener against the Jets on Sunday, Sept. 7 needs to be monitored. If Austin were to continue to miss time, that would open the door for Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson to fill in as the WR2 behind DK Metcalf.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Not in line to play Saturday
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Austin (undisclosed) is not slated to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.
Austin has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, but with the Steelers planning to rest numerous starters Saturday, the wideout may not have played anyway. When available, Austin profiles as the team's No. 2 WR behind top option, DK Metcalf.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Not expected to play Saturday
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Austin (undisclosed) is unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Austin has been dealing with an unspecified injury, so look for him to sit out the contest, especially with the Steelers planning to rest their key skill players, in any case. In that scenario, Austin's next chance to see game action will arrive Saturday, Aug. 16 against Tampa Bay.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Deemed day-to-day
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Austin (undisclosed) didn't practice Sunday and is considered day-to-day, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
It's not clear what Austin is dealing with or how long he will remain sidelined. The 26-year-old reportedly has a leg up in the competition for Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver role behind DK Metcalf. Austin also is slated to serve as the Steelers' lead punt returner during the upcoming campaign.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Leading candidate for WR2 spot
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Steelers receivers coach Zach Azzani recently said "that [WR2] spot is all [Austin's] right now," Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
The Steelers reworked their wideout room over the offseason, jettisoning George Pickens in a trade while also letting Van Jefferson walk in free agency. DK Metcalf was acquired from Seattle, and Pittsburgh also signed 33-year-old Robert Woods. However, it sounds like Austin has a significant lead on Woods and second-year WR Roman Wilson for the starting gig opposite Metcalf. Austin had a breakout 2024 campaign, posting a 36-548-4 receiving line on 58 targets while playing in all 17 regular-season games, averaging a robust 15.2 yards per catch. Following the Steelers' acquisition of Jonnu Smith, this looks like an offense that is going to feature two tight ends in Smith and Pat Freiermuth, as opposed to three wide receivers, so the winner of the WR2 job stands to see far more playing time than the Steelers' third and fourth receivers.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Fails to catch lone target in loss
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Austin failed to secure his lone target during Saturday's 19-17 loss to the Bengals.
Austin had one of his best three-game stretches of the year leading up to Saturday's regular-season finale, as he secured 13 of 15 targets for 161 yards. However, he was held in check in Week 18 as the Steelers passed for just 148 yards. Pittsburgh will face Baltimore in a wild-card matchup Jan. 11, and Austin secured five of seven targets for 64 yards during his two regular-season appearances against the Ravens this year.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Tallies 31 yards in loss
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Austin secured four of five targets for 31 yards during Wednesday's 29-10 loss to Kansas City.
Austin led the Steelers in receiving yards in each of the last two games since George Pickens (hamstring) was sidelined. However, Pickens was back in action Wednesday, and Austin wasn't as productive in a game in which the Steelers' offense struggled to generate much production through the air. Austin has secured 19 of 24 targets for 272 yards and two touchdowns over his last six appearances, but his fantasy potential for the Steelers' regular-season finale against the Bengals next week will likely be limited as long as Pickens is available once again.
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Steelers' Calvin Austin: Lone bright spot in loss to Philly
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Austin recorded five receptions on five targets for 65 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Eagles.
Austin did his part to fill the void left by George Pickens' (hamstring) absence in the Pittsburgh offense by recording a season-best five receptions. His biggest impact came early in the third quarter, when he recorded a 31-yard reception that put the Steelers in scoring range. Despite the positive showing, Austin still has surpassed 50 receiving yards in only four games on the campaign.
