ESPN rules analyst calls out missed penalty against Steelers on Calvin Austin touchdown

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have gotten away with a missed penalty that led to a Calvin Austin touchdown against the New York Giants on Monday night. ESPN rules analyst Russell York said on the broadcast that the Steelers should have been called for roughing the punter before the Austin punt return for a TD.

“There’s definitely contact to the lower part of the leg and the plant leg. It’s definitely to cause a foul,” York said. “I will say it looked like there was some blocking action by Giants No. 45 into him, and that’s probably what they didn’t call it. But there’s enough contact for a foul.”

ESPN NFL rules analyst Russell York believes the Steelers may have gotten away with one on a missed roughing the punter call that resulted in a special teams touchdown.

"There is enough contact for a foul." pic.twitter.com/OozHPQG3UO

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 29, 2024

It was a big break for the Steelers as the punter return TD gave them the 16-9 lead over the Giants with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter. Austin scored again with 13:16 remaining in the fourth quarter when he caught a 29-yard TD pass to Russell Wilson.

Entering the game against the Giants, Austin has caught 11 passes for 2013 yards and one touchdown. As a punt returner, Austin was averaging 9.5 yards per return. Austin, who played college football at Memphis, made his NFL debut last year and caught 17 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown in 2023. He also had 29 punt returns with an average of 8.6 yards and one rushing touchdown.

Steelers coach says Calvin Austin is ‘outstanding’

The Steelers selected Wilson in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He did not play during the 2022 season due to a foot injury he suffered before the start of the season.

“He’s been outstanding. That’s a guy who’s gone from here to here in just eight weeks,” Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said about Austin back in June, per Sports Illustrated. “I mean, it’s been really fun to watch. He’s a worker, he’s intentful, he’s urgent, he wants to be coached and you can see it because his game has done that.”