Players the Steelers can’t count on for the 2023 season

Steelers can’t rely on Calvin Austin right now

Of all the names on this list, the one fans seem way too confident in is Calvin Austin. Every time I see someone post about the Steelers needing a receiver, there are a handful of people that claim this position is fine because Austin is set to make his NFL debut in 2023. While I was high on the speedy rookie, he has to earn playing time at this point.

Austin flashed in practice before a foot injury shut him down for the year. Add in the fact that he was only a fourth-round pick, and Austin isn’t locked into some sort of a starting role right now. Like Robinson, he can easily earn that, but saying that receiver is fine because Austin can come in and start there is a major overstatement.

This team still needs to fill out this receiver room. A veteran and rookie would help strengthen this depth chart overall. That doesn’t mean Austin won’t earn a role. Ideally, he does, but claiming that his being on this roster means the Steelers don’t need to address the position is silly given just how shallow this receiver room was in 2022.

With the Steelers making their game plan now as to how they will attack the offseason, it is important to have realistic expectations for who is on the roster. While having a name like Robinson or Austin become a starter, we can’t count on that yet, and the Steelers need to be ready to accommodate with a different player in case.