The Pittsburgh Steelers are inching closer and closer to the team's regular season opener against the New York Jets, and fans are beginning to get a better idea of what the team might look like after seeing them play in two preseason games. Pittsburgh has its last preseason game of 2025 on Thursday, and then a little over two weeks before the regular season begins. One player the fans have been missing out on is wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who has missed over two weeks of practice due to an abdominal injury that hasn't been spoken about much.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Austin has missed serious practice time, which is clearly unfortunate as the receivers need to take this time to build on their own relationships with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Chemistry between a wide receiver and a quarterback is important, and Austin and Rodgers have missed out on valuable time working together due to the abdominal issue Austin is going through. The young wide receiver had been missing practice as of late, but he was out on the field on Monday working by himself off to the side.
WR Calvin Austin was in uniform at practice today, an improvement from the last two-ish weeks as he worked through an injury. pic.twitter.com/MaMxQBPTMt
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 18, 2025
This is a good sign as Austin is getting active on the field again, but he could still be a long way from returning to being a full participant in practice. The severity of his injury was never truly specified, so it is hard to guess when Austin might return. His comments after practice on Monday however, weren't too inspiring.
Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III says it’s been “very frustrating” to miss practice time in camp and these two preseason games. He isn’t sure if he’ll be ready for week 1, leaving that up to the coaches and medical staff.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) August 18, 2025
Getting Austin back to being a full participant in practice before Week 1 is a priority, but it is still up in the air on how far along in his recovery he will be by that point. He was penciled in as the second wide receiver heading into training camp before this injury, so it is a hard setback to watch as he took a meaningful step forward during the 2024 season.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wide receivers Calvin Austin III (19) and Robert Woods (16) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Another sign that states the organization isn't too optimistic that Austin will be available for Week 1 is the fact that the franchise is bringing in veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis for a second visit on Tuesday. He visited earlier in the 2025 offseason, but a deal was not reached with there being some speculation about his health. If all goes well during the visit on Tuesday, it is hard to imagine the Steelers would not do their best to sign him before he leaves Pittsburgh.
Steelers' Calvin Austin III Is Entering A Contract Year
The 2025 season is an important year for Austin. It is the final season of his rookie contract, and he will become a free agent during the 2026 offseason. Pittsburgh does not normally conduct contractual business during the season, so unless an extension is reached prior to the year or before free agency, Austin could be heading elsewhere. The young wide receiver could improve on his performance from 2024 and earn himself a decent pay day on a new deal after 2025.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers' Calvin Austin III catching a touchdown pass from Russell Wilson against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in 2024.
The injury is not helping Austin as he will have to knock some rust off once he is able to return to the field. Hopefully he is ready to go by Week 1, especially since the 2025 season is pivotal for his future.
What do you think about this update on Austin's injury? Let us know in the comments below!
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