Calvin Austin determined to prove Steelers don't have a wide receiver problem

One of the biggest questions the Steelers had entering the 2024 season was which wide receiver (if any) would step up opposite George Pickens to help the offense. After Pittsburgh's Week 3 win over the LA Chargers, we may finally have our answer.

In Week 3, Los Angeles blanketed Pickens in the passing game, and Steelers quarterback Justin Fields was forced to distribute the football to eight different pass-catchers. None proved more effective in aiding the offense than Calvin Austin III.

Austin came up huge in the clutch for Pittsburgh. His biggest play of Week 3 was a 55-yard catch-and-run that resulted in a touchdown.

This impressive play gave the Steelers a two-score lead over the Chargers halfway through the fourth quarter to help put the game on ice.

But Austin was more than a one-trick pony in Week 3. By the end of the game, Austin had racked up four catches for 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. What's most impressive is his remarkable efficiency. Austin did all of this on just five targets -- averaging 23.8 yards per catch and a whopping 19.0 yards per target.

Steelers WR problem is diminishing thanks to Calvin Austin III

The Pittsburgh Steelers still need help at the wide receiver position, and we can't expect Calvin Austin to play like this every week. However, there's no question this career performance from the young wide receiver gives the team a boost of confidence about their current situation.

Austin's noticeable presence against the Chargers in Week 3 was made possible because of an unfortunate injury to Van Jefferson. The veteran wide-out left the contest after sustaining an eye injury. That's when Austin took off.

Austin's dominance working opposite Pickens should be enough to make him the team's WR2 for the foreseeable future. Rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson will soon be ready to take the field and could cut into Austin's production if he lives up to lofty expectations.

For now, Austin clearly looks like the second-best wide receiver on the roster, and if he did that much damage with just five targets in Week 3, imagine what he could do with more?

Though Austin is severely undersized (5'7 3/4'', 170 pounds) compared to his NFL wide receiver peers, he's a natural receiver with outstanding 4.32 speed. This was on full display against the Chargers.

Now that his breakout performance is behind him, Austin can focus on building on this momentum and being a reliable option for Justin Fields in the passing game moving forward. Wide receiver will still be a need that the Steelers will address in the 2024 offseason, but the emergence of Calvin Austin III proves the receiver problem isn't as we thought.