The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers narrowly missed out on a victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6, but they still boast a solid 4-2 record on the season. The team was without one of its key offensive playmakers, wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Fortunately for Steelers fans, head coach Mike Tomlin recently shared a positive update on Austin’s recovery. The young wideout appears to be trending in the right direction, raising hopes that he could return to action when the Steelers face the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.
Will Calvin Austin III Play in Week 8?
Austin suffered a shoulder injury in the Steelers’ Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Pittsburgh had a dominant 21-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter and wanted to take further advantage of an unusually subpar performance from the Minnesota defense.
However, the subsequent play did not go in their favor on two counts. Not only were they not able to score a touchdown, but the snap also saw Austin go down on the field. Almost immediately, it was clear that things weren’t okay.
While Austin was able to rest that shoulder during their bye week in Week 5, he sat out their Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns and then the Week 7 loss against the Bengals. But the Steelers appear to be on the verge of getting him on offense, and just in time for an important prime-time game vs. the Packers.
“Calvin Austin is scheduled to work this week,” Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. “We’ll let his participation and the quality of that participation be our guide in terms of his availability. As we stand here today, we’re optimistic and I know certainly he’s optimistic about his ability to be included.”
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.
READ MORE:Â 2025 NFL QB Rankings: Jalen Hurts, Aaron Rodgers Among Biggest Risers, Josh Allen Slides Out of Top 5
Austin has yet to play the significant role in the offense that many had hoped for. Despite only playing in four games, Austin has a WR Impact Score of 74.4 on the season. That ranks him as the 47th-best receiver in the NFL.
In his absence, second-year receiver Roman Wilson played a career-high number of snaps on Thursday and hauled in two receptions for 17 yards. If Austin is sidelined again, Wilson is likely to get extended time again.
