If Calvin Austin sits out games because of a shoulder injury, it will raise an all-too-familiar question for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

Who will be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver?

Austin had his shoulder in a sling and was taken by ambulance to a hospital after the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24-21, on Sunday in Dublin.

He will have extra time to heal with the Steelers having their bye this weekend. They don’t return until Oct. 12 when the Steelers play the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.

If Austin is unable to play against Cleveland, the Steelers will be without a receiver who has played 75% of the offensive snaps and is second among wideouts with 10 receptions, 139 yards and two touchdowns.

“I was devastated when he went down, but from what I hear, he won’t be out long,” wide receiver Ben Skowronek said Tuesday.

Skowronek is one of three receivers on the roster who will be tasked with taking on a bigger role in the event Austin misses significant playing time. That trio of Skowronek, Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller has combined for just two catches, 29 yards and one touchdown, which was produced by Skowronek in the season opener.

Barring a trade, the Steelers will fill Austin’s production in-house. That includes tight ends and maybe even running backs.

“It’s the whole skill group,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “We put this plan in, and the best way to attack it is to use the resources you’ve got. Whether it’s short term or whatever they tell us, it may be another receiver or group of receivers, it may be another tight end. We could use Kenny (Gainwell) out there if we had to.

“You have to have options, and we have multiple pieces on offense.”

Austin’s injury could provide an opportunity for Wilson to expand his presence in the offense. Wilson has averaged 11 snaps a game through the Steelers’ 3-1 start, but he’s received only two targets and has one catch for 7 yards. His biggest contribution to the win against the Vikings came when he recovered an onside kick late in the fourth quarter.

Wilson’s slow development has remained a mystery for fans expecting more from the team’s third-round pick in 2024. The coaching staff, though, remains patient.

“I’ve gotten that question a bit from people,” wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said Tuesday. “He’s doing great. There’s no ‘Roman’s in the doghouse’ or anything like that. Roman is doing just fine. We happen to be pretty good at tight end and wideout … Roman is in the mix like all the other guys. His role will keep elevating as the season goes on organically. I tell him when it happens, be ready, be ready for that opportunity.”

Miller was the receiving star of the preseason when he caught all nine of his targets for 167 yards. He took advantage of Austin’s absence with an abdominal injury in August to force his way onto the 53-man roster. He has played 35 snaps through four games, however, and has just one target with no receptions.

“Hopefully with the bye week, (Austin) can come back and be ready against the Browns. If he’s not, I’ll be more than ready to go,” Miller said. “I thought I did well with the snaps I got. I feel good about being able to play all the positions, and I pride myself in being able to know everything so if something happens, I can slide in and get the job done.”

His touchdown catch in the season opener aside, Skowronek has made his mark on special teams. His six combined tackles are second on the special teams units, and his fumble recovery against the New York Jets led to a touchdown. Like Miller, he has played 35 snaps this season, but 18 came against the Vikings when he was on the field for his blocking.

“As a competitor, you obviously want the ball in your hands,” Skowronek said, “but I don’t think I’m like any other receiver in the league. I truly don’t care how many catches I have. I’ll still be happy if we win. I want to be in the game on offense because I know what I can bring. I feel like there are a lot more ways to affect the game than catching the ball. … I want to be the enforcer. I want to be the guy who can get the run game going.”

The Steelers’ stable of tight ends also can be used to fill Austin’s void. The team’s top two receiving threats, Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith, played 15 and 13 snaps, respectively, against the Vikings. They took a backseat to Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward while the Steelers were running for a season-high 131 yards.

“We have a really diverse tight end room,” Freiermuth said. “We have a lot of skill sets. You guys have seen that the past couple weeks. If there are more opportunities for other guys, it will be great for us.”

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