Steelers Get New Update On WR Calvin Austin III's Injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a nice win in Dublin, Ireland playing against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. They got off to a nice start, but did almost let the game slip away in the final moments. Still, the victory was great to see, and Pittsburgh had a fair share of success across the pond.

During the game, wide receiver Calvin Austin III left with a shoulder injury, which immediately raised concerns about the wide receiver room. With DK Metcalf as the clear number one option, Austin has been counted on as the next best target, making his presence on the field especially important. Losing him, even for a short period of time, would not be ideal.

On Thursday, Steelers insider Mike DeFabo revealed in his article for The Athletic that Austin received some good news about his injury. What at first looked like something that could sideline him long-term turned out to be far less severe. The update provides optimism that Austin won’t miss significant time, and his speed and playmaking ability should remain a part of the offense moving forward. Given the current state of the wide receiver group behind Metcalf, this was the best possible outcome for the Steelers.

"X-rays on Calvin Austin III’s shoulder came back negative, according to a league source, which is good news," DeFabo said. "I do not know yet if he’ll miss time with injury or not. If he does, this could be [Roman] Wilson’s best chance to prove that he deserves a bigger piece of the pie moving forward."

Even though the situation could have been much worse, the Steelers know they must tread carefully with Austin’s recovery. He adds an element of explosiveness to the offense that cannot be easily replaced, especially with the depth at wide receiver being limited. 

Pittsburgh will continue to monitor his progress closely, but the encouraging news allows the team to move ahead with confidence. With Metcalf leading the way and Austin expected back sooner rather than later, the Steelers can focus on building off their strong start and keeping momentum alive after their win in Dublin.

Several Steelers Pass Catchers Must Step Up If Calvin Austin Is Out

If Austin does have to miss time, wide receivers like Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek could certainly see more opportunities, along with second-year receiver Roman Wilson. The Steelers also have three reliable tight ends in Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington, all of whom are capable of handling an increased workload. Each brings a different skill set to the offense, and if Austin is sidelined, Pittsburgh could lean on that group to help balance things out and keep the passing game moving.

The Steelers are fortunate that their bye week comes immediately after the game in Dublin, giving Austin extra time to recover. The team will be hoping to return in Week 6 with him fully healthy, but at this point, it’s too early to say for sure what his status will be. The fact that his X-rays came back negative, however, is an encouraging sign and suggests the injury may not keep him off the field for long.

The Steelers sit at 3-1 in the 2025 season, which is far from a bad start. Their only real setback came in the home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a game that exposed some lingering issues on defense. Pittsburgh has struggled to consistently prevent opposing offenses from piling up yards, and that remains a concern heading into the next stretch of the season. Still, there’s plenty of optimism in the Steel City, as the team has shown flashes of real potential and has positioned itself well in the early standings.

Who do you expect to step up most if Calvin Austin III has to miss extended time with his injury? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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