Mike Tomlin Gives Green Light for Banged-Up Steelers WR

Head coach Mike Tomlin provides injury update on wide receiver Calvin Austin III.

Pittsburgh Steelers Calvin Austin III
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III in a game against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 10, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH — On Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave an injury update on wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who suffered an injury during the team’s Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders.

Tomlin revealed that Austin should be just fine, although he might be limited at the beginning of the week.

“I don’t anticipate any issue with him,” Tomlin said. “Maybe he’s slow at the early portions of the week. I’d put him in that category with Donte Jackson.”

Tomlin characterized Jackson as day-to-day with the expectation that he will suit up when the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.

That’s great news given Austin’s impact on offense and special teams this season. The third-year wide receiver has 16 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He has also returned 19 punts for 226 yards and a touchdown.

Steelers wide receiver/punt returner Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh will need Austin to pick up right where he left off with a key battle for first place in the AFC North on deck. He has a great chance to do just that against Baltimore’s 32nd-ranked pass defense.

While the Ravens are allowing a league-worst 294.9 passing yards per game, Tomlin doesn’t believe they’ve played as poorly as the numbers say.

“I know a lot’s been written and said about their pass defense, but to be quite honest with you, when I turn the tape on, I don’t see negligence,” he said. “I see a group that’s definitively up on people and a lot of people are getting out of their personalities and have been simply one-dimensional and throwing the ball 40 or 50 times against them.”

It remains to be seen whether the Steelers will adopt a similar personality on Sunday, but if they do, it looks like they’ll have Austin among their arsenal of weapons.

Not many believed that would be the case when Pittsburgh signed All-Pro returner and wide receiver Jamal Agnew on Tuesday morning. It seems that move was just for depth.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Wed Thu Fri Game
WR Calvin Austin III TBD Nov. 10 Day to day PROB
RB Najee Harris Right ankle Nov. 10 Day to day PROB
CB Donte Jackson Hamstring Nov. 10 Day to day PROB
OLB Alex Highsmith Left ankle Nov. 10 Week to week OUT
OLB Nick Herbig Right hamstring Oct. 6 Day to day PROB

STEELERS INJURED RESERVE

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Roster Status
DT Montravius Adams Knee Oct. 18 Two weeks Injured reserve
CB Anthony Averett TBD Oct. 17 TBD Practice squad IR
WR Roman Wilson Hamstring Oct. 17 Two weeks Injured reserve
DE DeMarvin Leal Neck/stinger Oct. 6 Out for season Injured reserve
RG James Daniels Achilles Sept. 29 Out for season Injured reserve
CB Cory Trice Jr. Hamstring Sept. 22 Week to week Injured reserve
RT Troy Fautanu R knee dislocation Sept. 20 Regular season Injured reserve
P Cameron Johnston Right knee Sept. 8 Out for season Injured reserve
SS Ryan Watts Neck/stinger Aug. 24 Out for season Injured reserve
DL Logan Lee Calf Aug. 20 Week to week Injured reserve
C Nate Herbig Torn rotator cuff Aug. 14 Out for season Injured reserve
OLB David Perales Left MCL tear July 31 Out for season Injured reserve 
ILB Cole Holcomb Left knee surgery Nov. 2, 2023 Week to week PUP/reserve

Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.

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