Steelers WR Calvin Austin taking only positives from missing his rookie season

This time a year ago, Calvin Austin was counting the days until Steelers opened preseason training camp. But the Pittsburgh receiver’s rookie season never made it out of August.

He injured his foot early in preseason and never saw action in a preseason or regular season game. Coming into training camp this year, it’s like Calvin Austin is geting a do-over on his rookie season, but, mentally, he’s evolved into a second-year player. Dare he say it — Austin believes it all was a “blessing.”

“In the beginning, it was extremely tough,” Austin told the Pittsburgh Tribune. “Just because I really wanted to go out there and be able to contribute right away.

“But I was just blessed to be in the position I am in, because from my teammates to the coaches and the training staff, how they all surrounded me and filled me up and kept me around. It made it to where last year was a blessing because I got to watch and learn — everything. And that’s why now I feel like, I know I didn’t play — but I feel like I got a whole year of experience under my belt.”

The Steelers used a fourth-round pick to select Austin in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Memphis star turned heads at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.32-second time in the 40-yard dash. But Austin wasn’t surprised with the time. He and his fellow Tigers on Memphis’ 4X100 relay team earned All-American honors at the NCAA track meet.

Calvin Austin still maintaining speed after foot surgery

He also had the production at Memphis, with 74 catches for 1,149 yards his senior season, to show scouts. He evolved from a walk-on to all-AAC. The only knock was Calvin Austin’s size. He’s 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds. Austin is the smallest Steeler on the roster.

Although he needed surgery for the foot injury to heal, he still maintains his speed.

“He brings a unique skillset in terms of his stop/start and the speed element,” Steelers receivers coach Frisman Jackson told reporters earlier this year. “We missed that last year. He’s a guy who can take the top off the coverage going from 0-60 (mph) just like that. So he’s been showing that stuff. And we are just trying to develop different parts of his game, see what roles he can do and try to put him in positions where he can be successful and use that speed and explosiveness to his advantage and to our advantage.”

Calvin Austin’s foot no longer is an issue as camp approaches. Players report July 26. Kenny Pickett, who also is headed into his second season, will have even more receiving weapons. The Steelers also traded with the Rams for Allen Robinson in the off season. Both Austin and Robinson will be trying to snaps in the slot.

But Austin knows he needs to keep his foot healthy.

“Everything went great after the surgery,” Calvin Austin said in an earlier interview after OTAs. “That’s been a part of my whole offseason — rehabbing, working with (Steelers) staff, so I think it just all paid off. I have been thankful and blessed to have a successful surgery — the trainers, coaches, rehab, everybody involved in that process was great. Right now, I feel great and I am just ready to keep on attacking.”