Steelers rookie WR Calvin Austin returns to practice, opening 21-day window to return to games
Calvin Austin III returned to practice Wednesday, opening up a 21-day window during which the rookie wide receiver can be activated off of injured reserve and make his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It feels great,” Austin said. “It was definitely good to be back out there. I was a little winded, but aside from that everything felt good.”
It was the first time in about seven weeks that Austin got a chance to test his injured foot in a practice with teammates.
“I’ve been feeling good for a minute, but you never know until you get out there and practice in a competitive environment and block,” he said. “You can never do that outside with trainers, so I think the timing is right. Everything worked out. I feel like this is the right moment.”
A fourth-round pick out of Memphis, the 5-foot-9 Austin was one of the fastest players in the draft. He opened eyes during the early part of training camp. But he suffered a foot injury just prior to the Steelers’ preseason opener and did not return to a full practice the remainder of camp.
Austin was placed on injured reserve when final rosters were set, meaning he had to sit out a minimum of four games. That window has expired. Now that Austin has taken the practice field, by NFL rules the Steelers have 21 days to add him to the 53-man roster, or he is lost for the season.
“At this point, it’s continuing to perform out there on the field and wait for coach Tomlin’s word,” Austin said.
Austin could add to a wide receivers corps that has a clear top three in veterans Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool along with rookie second-round pick George Pickens. The Steelers’ other wide receivers — return specialist Gunner Olszewski, special-teams standout Miles Boykin and former Washington receiver Steven Sims (who has not been in uniform for a game yet this season) have combined for one target and zero catches.
Austin, along with Sims, also is an option in the return game. Olszewski was signed to handle those duties but with two fumbles in four games has drawn coach Mike Tomlin’s ire. Austin averaged 13.0 yards over 25 punt returns his final two college seasons.
Austin said he worked with the return teams in practice Wednesday.
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.