The Pittsburgh Steelers are putting their 4-1 record to the test on Thursday Night Football this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers enter the game winners of three straight and appear to be one of the top teams in the AFC. Even though they are facing an injury-riddled Bengals on Thursday, this game has the makings of a tough divisional battle. Unfortunately, the Steelers will be without a key offensive weapon for the game.
Will the Steelers Miss Calvin Austin III Against Cincinnati?
Calvin Austin III suffered a shoulder injury in the Steelers’ Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Austin was able to rest that shoulder during their bye week in Week 5 and sat out their Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns. According to NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe, Austin will miss Thursday night’s game as he recovers from the injury.
Steelers rule WR Calvin Austin III and S Miles Killebrew OUT tomorrow against the Bengals.
S DeShon Elliott (personal) is questionable. Elliott is a huge piece of Steelers D as a communicator & in both pass/run game.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 15, 2025
The fourth-year receiver, who was drafted in 2022 and had to sit out an entire season, has not played a significant role in the Steelers’ offense this season, catching only 10 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. However, due to his elite speed, he is electric with the ball in his hands and a downfield threat.
Austin III has yet to play a significant role in the offense that many had hoped for. Despite only playing in four games, Austin III has a WR Impact Score of 74.2 on the season. That ranks him as the 48th-best receiver in the NFL. It will be interesting to see who the Steelers use as their deep threat and punt returner for this game.
Steelers Hoping to Build On Hot Start
The NFL is in a strange place this season. There does not seem to be a dominant team, and parity is at an all-time high across the league. More importantly for the Steelers, the AFC North is as bad as it has been. Injuries to Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson have derailed the Bengals’ and Ravens’ seasons, while the Browns continue to be underwhelmed by a lack of offense.
If the Steelers can win on Thursday night, they have a chance to run away with the division. That would put them at 5-1 and 3.5 games over the second-place Bengals. The Steelers are the one team in the division with a stable quarterback option (until Lamar Jackson returns), and they are well-coached.
Mike Tomlin has never had a season where his team finished with a record below .500. He consistently keeps the Steelers in contention, and it may not take much more than nine or ten wins to secure this division.
