PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers lost starting wide receiver Calvin Austin III in their Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings. An upper-body injury ended his game early, and after a much-needed bye week, the team was hoping to hear some good news on Austin’s status.
Instead, the Steelers receiver was visibly discouraged as he spoke to reporters about his injury after a recent practice. Asked about the severity of the injury and the timetable for his return, Austin had no concrete answers. Instead, he told the media he was taking things day by day while they search for answers.
“Like I said, you have to take it one day at a time,” he told reporters. “I will listen to the medical staff and Coach T.”
Will he be placed on the injured/reserved list while he recovers? It’s possible, but it’s not a guarantee. No need to ask Austin, who had no idea what the team’s plans were for him during his recovery.
“Oh yeah, I have no idea,” he said of the possibility of passing IR.
Without Calvin Austin III, the Steelers are depleted at the wide receiver position. At the start of the season, this was already a worrying position, and it reached a new level of concern after their recent victory. The group behind superstar wide receiver DK Metcalf is a junior varsity group trying to make college plays. It’s a lost cause as special teams veterans like Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek are asked to play a larger role in the offense.
Calls for a trade have been loud since training camp, with many calling for an addition when the team sent George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The backup was already there in Austin, but now this injury puts the Steelers back in the same spot where they need depth behind their primary target.
Today, these calls are only increasing for wider help from receivers. Aside from Miller and Skowronek, the only other option on the 53-man roster is second-year receiver Roman Wilson. Behind him are coaching options like Ke’Shawn Williams and Isaiah Hodgins.
The Steelers don’t have long to decide their next move. They have a few weeks left before the trade deadline, so any outside additions need to be made quickly. Otherwise, they’ll wait for Austin to return, and it’s clear from his recent comments that he won’t be on the field anytime soon.
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