Steelers WR Calvin Austin III Returns to Practice Wednesday

The Steelers will be getting rookie wide receiver Calvin Austin III back in practice today, the team announced on Wednesday.

Austin told reporters that he will practice on Wednesday, thus opening up his 21-day window to return from a foot injury that has nagged him since August. He is eligible to return as early as Sunday against the Bills, though he may need time to ramp up his workload to make a significant impact.

Mike Tomlin alluded to the potential for a return for Austin on Tuesday, stating that his participation throughout the coming weeks will determine when he will be able to come off injured reserve. Until he does, Austin will not count towards the team’s salary cap or 53-man roster.

“Austin is eligible to come up this week,” Tomlin said. “And by come up, I mean you have an opportunity to start the 21-day window to practice and make judgments from there.”

Calvin Austin suffered the foot injury prior to the team’s first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He has not practiced since August 11, the day before he suffered the foot injury. While the injury was not perceived as serious, it still landed Austin on injured reserve and forced him to miss the first four weeks of the season.

Austin can practice for the next 21 days before he must be added to the 53-man roster. If he is not added to the roster by the end of the 21-day window, Austin is out for the rest of the season.