The Pittsburgh Steelers will have plenty of news faces will be on the field in three weeks when they report for training camp on July 23 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.
Yes, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get most of the headlines. And yes, DK Metcalf will be the leading act in the wide receivers room. And yes, Metcalf will have to pick up some of the slack for George Pickens, who the Steelers traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
So if Metcalf is WR1 for the Steelers, who will be his tag-team partner? ESPN’s Brooke Pryor said Monday it will be Calvin Austin III, who she called the team’s biggest offseason surprise. That is based in part on what wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said during minicamp last month. “I think that ‘2’ spot is all Calvin’s right now,'” Azzanni said, per Pryor.
“Selected 86 picks after Pickens in 2022, Austin missed his entire rookie year with an injury but has turned into a steady contributor in each of his last two seasons,” Pryor continued.
“Austin was just behind Pickens last season, averaging 15.2 yards per reception, and he hauled in four touchdowns to Pickens’ three,” Pryor added. “Austin still has to build chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers but he made plays throughout the Steelers’ OTAs and minicamp with Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Will Howard throwing him the football.”
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The 26-year-old receiver played in all 17 regular-season games last season, making eight starts. He set career highs with 36 receptions, 548 yards and four touchdowns.
Austin also returned 28 punts last year and took one to the house, going 73 yards for the touchdown in the Steelers’ 26-18 win over the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.” He also had a 29-yard touchdown reception in Pittsburgh’s Week 8 victory.
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Featured image via Barry Reeger/Imagn Images