Calvin Austin III Shines for Steelers in Primetime
PITTSBURGH – With the game tied 9-9 in the third quarter, Calvin Austin broke through with a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a 16-9 lead over the New York Giants at the 4:38 mark of the third quarter of Monday night’s game.
On the Steelers’ next possession, Austin caught a 29-yard touchdown from Russell Wilson to enhance Pittsburgh’s lead to 23-9. In a 26-18 win over New York, Austin’s two game-changing plays were the difference.
“That punt return was a catalyst for us,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game. “We were ready to break this thing open, man. I talked to Calvin before on third down, before he took the field, he’d just been close for a couple weeks, and I thought it was his time and he thought it was his time, and he delivered.”
CALVIN. AUSTIN. THE THIRD.
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Austin finished with three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, while Van Jefferson caught four passes for 62 yards. The Steelers’ No. 2 wide receiver position has been heavily scrutinized, but Austin and Jefferson both stepped up on Monday night.
“Since OTAs, since training camp, each individual player, receiver, we feel how we feel. We’re all competitors. We gonna always bank on us, regardless,” Austin said.
Austin felt like he was on the brink of breaking a punt return for a touchdown.
“Yeah, I actually texted my friends yesterday,” Austin said. “I was like, ‘I’m taking a punt back.’ … I was like, it’s my time and that’s what happened.
“I went 16, 17 games last year and didn’t take no punts back. That’s not like myself and the standard I hold myself to. Getting in there was just a sigh of relief.”
Austin is the fifth player in Steelers history with a receiving touchdown and punt return for a touchdown in the same game. He is also only the third player in the last 20 years to record a receiving touchdown and punt return for a touchdown on Monday Night Football.
“Calvin is deserving of that moment. He deserves all the success,” Jefferson said. “He just wants to play ball, just eager to impact the team. I’m just so proud of him, man. He deserves it. I know he’s going to continue to build off this.”
All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt also gave Austin a shoutout for his standout performance.
“It’s a collective effort to win a football game. Offense, defense, special teams. How about Calvin Austin? He’s been knocking at the door for a long time,” Watt said.
RELATED: Steelers Locker Room: Calvin Austin III on Game-Breaking Punt Return
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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