The Pittsburgh Steelers are staring down what’s shaping up to be one of the most pivotal seasons in recent memory.
Pressure is on, and thanks to an offseason masterclass from General Manager Omar Khan, the roster is stacked in ways fans haven’t seen in years.
With Aaron Rodgers steering the offense and Jalen Ramsey locking down the secondary, this team looks like it’s finally built to smash through the playoff barrier that’s tripped them up for far too long.
However, even the most finely crafted roster still has weak spots, and for the Steelers, the most obvious one is the WR2 slot next to DK Metcalf.
It’s a golden opportunity for someone to carve out a critical role in an offense that’s poised to be far more explosive than last year.
The problem? No one has claimed it — and that includes Calvin Austin III.
I had high hopes for Austin heading into camp.
The third-year receiver out of Memphis came in looking sharp, bringing the same speed and shiftiness that made him a headache for defenses in 2024.
Early in training camp at St. Vincent College, he was electric — so much so that it felt like he was writing his ticket to the WR2 role.
But the NFL can be cruel in its timing, and an abdominal muscle injury derailed everything.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to see more from Calvin Austin III
Since suffering the setback, Austin has missed significant practice time and sat out the first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Meanwhile, Scotty Miller and rookie Roman Wilson have been quietly — and effectively — eating up his reps.
In a competition this tight, being unavailable is almost as costly as underperforming.
And here’s the thing: I know Austin has what it takes. Last season, he was one of Pittsburgh’s pleasant surprises, hauling in 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns.
Those numbers might not jump off the stat sheet, but given his role and limited opportunities, he was an efficient and dangerous weapon.
That’s why this injury — and the timing of it — feels so gut-wrenching.
It’s also the reality of the NFL.
Momentum is everything, and once it slips, it can be hard to get it back.
While Austin has been working to get healthy, his competition has been building trust with Aaron Rodgers, finding rhythm in Arthur Smith’s offense, and showing the coaching staff why they deserve a bigger role.
This is a turning point moment for Austin’s career.
If he can get back on the field quickly and remind everyone why he was the talk of camp just a few weeks ago, the WR2 job is still within reach.
But the clock is ticking, and in a loaded offense like Pittsburgh’s, chances don’t linger for long.
If he lets this moment pass, the Steelers will move forward without hesitation — and someone else will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers when the games start to count.
For a player with Austin’s potential, that would be more than just a missed opportunity. It would be the kind of “what could have been” story that sticks for years.