Pittsburgh Steelers WR2: Calvin Austin III

The Pittsburgh Steelers released their initial depth chart ahead of their first preseason game of the 2025 season. As many other fans have surmised, I don’t think the order of the names means anything as we sit here today, but it does kinda set expectations a bit as we head into an actual football game later this week.

One of the few “unknowns” that I was eager to get some clarity on was: who will line up opposite of DK Metcalf at receiver in week one? Earlier this summer, there was a lot of optimism surrounding second-year guy Roman Wilson, but I’m not surprised to see Calvin Austin III listed as WR2 for the time being. The Steelers are very-much-so a “what have you done for me lately?” kinda coaching staff, and Roman Wilson has done, literally, nothing. CAIII(#19) finished last year with a measly 548 yards, but he averaged 15.2 yards per catch, good enough for 10th best in the NFL. Our offense was one of the ugliest, and most inefficient in all of professional football last year, and there’s very few performances from that side of the ball that I think deserve any recognition, but 19 is definitely one of them. 

Going back and combing over 19’s film from last season, it becomes quickly apparent that he was often the hardest working receiver on the field for us, with the ball or without it. We’ve all seen the clips of George Pickens half-assing routes and refusing to block for his teammates. There’s no world that exists where I’m going to try and convince my readers that 19 is better than Pickens; I think we all know better, but this isn’t a George-Pickens-hate-post, either. At the end of the day, I’m happy to spend my time studying and cheering for the guy that enthusiastically blocks for his teammates like 19 did for Pickens in the play above. I’m not sure the box score crowd is going to be as excited for Calvin as I am, but I digress. 

Like I mentioned before, 19 finished last season top 10 in yards per catch, and a ton of that damage came from the seam, like in the play yinz see above. If I have any reservations about Calvin Austin III spending the bulk of his snaps outside at WR2, it’s because I don’t think he’s the most refined route runner in the world. I’m not going to plaster videos of him running mediocre routes all over this post, but just know I could if I wanted to. With that being said, that’s not because of a lack of speed. 19 has the wheels to take the top off the defense, and in many ways, he was exactly the kind of player Russell Wilson needed last year. I’ve seen enough zip from Aaron Rodgers’ arm this summer to have faith that plays like this are on the horizon this season as well.

I appreciate that 19 also has this in his bag (above). This little screen action only goes for 7 yards, but there’s a lot about the rep that I really like. I love Broderick Jones out there navigating that second level. I love 19 getting skinny. I love 19 breaking tackles. I love 19 falling forward. Again, it’s only 7 yards, but I like the willingness to use Calvin in that way, and I like the execution in this particular example. Let’s not forget, Aaron Rodgers had one of the fastest time-to-throw averages in the league last year; he’ll be looking to feast on these quick opportunities.

Probably the thing that strikes me the most from 19’s film last year is the missed opportunities. I’m not going to kill Russ for this one (above), because I see what he sees, but I also see what he doesn’t see: that safety coming down on top of Van Jefferson, and a wide open Calvin Austin III. I don’t know the playcall, but I’m almost certain Russ was reading that side of the field front-to-back, meaning Van Jefferson was the correct “read” here. If only Russ held this ball for another split second. This play came on a third down, and the Steelers kicked a field goal on the next play. 

Sigh 

I’ll say this much…the Giants pass rush was REAL last year. Russ was sacked 4 times in this game, so maybe he was expecting some pressure that wasn’t there on this play. I can’t come up with any other reason why 19 was missed here, on third down. You can pause this video at nearly any point between 6 and 10 seconds and you’ll see Russ appearing to be looking right at a wide open 19, who’s frantically waving his arms in the air calling for the ball. I don’t have any smart football observations to add here. Aaron Rodgers is getting 6 on this play. We kicked a field goal instead. 

This was all season long, by the way. I know Russy sprinkled in some awesome throws to keep us invested, but you gotta get this ball to 19 here (above). I know some of yinz are watching that Sam linebacker and thinking Jay baby doesn’t know ball, but if Russ is letting that thing fly with anticipation like he should be, then that LB doesn’t stand a chance. Russ holding onto the football too long is the reason he had to resort to his checkdown, instead. Look at Russ’ eyes as I pause the video, though. He sees it. A-Rod would see it too, and I think he would throw it. This play, too, comes on third down. Would it surprise you to hear that we kicked a field goal after this?

I’m not here to call Calvin Austin III a world-beater, and I am of the mindset that the Steelers would be better off adding another weapon at receiver before the regular season begins. With that being said, 19 has earned his spot on the depth chart. Assuming this is the receiver room that we enter the season with, he’s probably in for a career year, if not from a talent perspective, then almost certainly from a volume perspective. I can see Calvin Austin III finishing the year around 8-900 yards receiving. 

Follow me on twitter/x: @jay_newm 

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