Earlier this week, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Calvin Austin III returned to practice after missing over a month of action. The rookie has yet to make his NFL debut, but that should be right around the corner. His return to practice began the 21-day period in which the Steelers must activate him within that timeframe, or else he won’t be allowed to return the entire season.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
After that first practice on Wednesday, the fourth-rounder from the 2022 NFL Draft spoke with reporters. Understandably so, the playmaker admitted that his conditioning isn't all the way there yet:
"It [the foot] feels great. It was definitely good being back out there. Definitely was a little winded, but besides that, everything felt good," Austin said in his interview via the Steelers' YouTube channel. "At this point, it's just continuing to just perform out there and wait for coach [Mike] Tomlin's word."
That's refreshing to hear, and Austin said he's actually felt good for awhile now. The team, and Austin himself, seemingly just wanted to be cautious with the situation. While he didn't rule out a return for this weekend against the Buffalo Bills, it's more likely that Tomlin will wait until Week 6 to activate him off the IR.
The rookie's 4.32 40-yard dash speed will bring a different dynamic to the Steelers offense. The wide receivers have struggled at times, and he'll certainly get his chances this season. At training camp in Latrobe, Austin flashed his legitimate speed and big-play ability. One other interesting tidbit from his interview with reporters, Austin said he did get reps on special teams.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
That would be both punt and kick return. He got reps there in training camp, but this is especially notable with the recent demotion of Gunner Olszewski. Olszewski's two fumbles in the first four games led to Tomlin relegating him to backup duties, as Steven Sims will handle those duties in Week 5. Austin may be shaping up to be the backup returner once he's activated though, perhaps even pushing Sims for the starting job. Once the rookie officially returns, it seems Olszewski's tenure in Pittsburgh may be all but over.
Should Austin get a long look at handling return duties this season? What kind of impact can/will he provide in the passing game? What are your predictions on his stats to end the season? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comment section below!
#SteelerNation
