Steelers Name Leader For No. 2 Wide Receiver Job
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have been looking to add No. 2 wide receiver since trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys last month. But Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni believes he is already on the roster.
Advertisement
'I think that No. 2 spot is all Calvin [Austin III]'s right now,' Azzanni said. 'Really, him and DK [Metcalf] are such different players that there's going to be plays that he is the one guy because that's his route, and vice versa, because they're so different.'
Pittsburgh selected Austin in the fourth round (No. 138 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draftt. He then missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a foot injury.
However, the 26-year-old has steadily improved every year since. In 2023, he had 17 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown, and then last season, he had a career-high 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III in a game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 17, 2024 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
That isn't elite, or even No. 2 wide receiver, production, but if he continues to take another step forward in Year 4, he could certainly get there.
Advertisement
Austin isn't letting his semi-breakout season slow him down, either.
'Not glamouring over last year. I remember the fact that I'm a walk on,' Austin said. 'I have notes in my phone, texts and stuff. I remember people didn't think I would be here. My family, my dad, some of my coaches were the only people to believe in me. So that's what really is my motivation year after year and is why going into this season, it's not anything different or new for me.'
The Steelers could still opt to acquire another wide receiver, and rightfully so, since Austin plays primarily in the slot at his 5-foot-9, 162-pound frame. But there's no doubt all eyes will be on Austin this summer, especially as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.
That has Azzanni as excited as ever for his overlooked unit.
Advertisement
'Everyone's downplaying, underplaying our group right now,' Azzanni said. 'I love it that way. I don't really want anyone looking at us, anyway.'
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Name Leader For No. 2 Wide Receiver Job
Related Headlines
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Golden State Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun: live game updates, stats, play-by-play
Tina Charles scored 24 points, Bria Hartley and Marina Mabrey both added 15 and the last-place Connecticut Sun rolled to a 95-64 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday. The Sun (4-20) had a season high for points thanks to season bests of 12 3-pointers, 53% overall shooting (35 of 66) and 14 steals. French rookie Leila Lacan had six steals in just her sixth game.
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Knicks reserve guard could see increased role next season
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride could be the biggest beneficiary of Mike Brown being hired as the team's new head coach. Per SNY's Ian Begley, McBride could see an increased role compared to his role under Tom Thibodeau. 'We don't know how Knicks coach Mike Brown will deploy his rotation. But it's logical to think that McBride will play significant minutes with Clarkson and Yabusele,' Begley said. In the past, it would appear at times as though McBride wasn't being utilized properly in the rotation. Now with Brown, it's possible that McBride could see an increased role in the offense. McBride has the ability to play in several different types of lineups for the Knicks thanks to his ability to space the floor and defend at a high level. McBride himself spoke with Begley about sharing the second unit with new acquisitions Jordan Clarkson, and Guerschon Yabusele. 'Obviously (Clarkson's) a vet in this league. He's done great things,' McBride said, per Begley. 'Obviously, he can fill up the stat sheet and really score the ball at a high level. And obviously adding Geurschon as well. I think everybody's seen what he did in the Olympics and carrying that momentum into (last season), so we're really excited about him.' 'I feel like we're going to play fast, we're going to be using a lot of different guys,' he added. 'If you saw the Finals, they (Oklahoma City and Indiana) had a lot of depth on both teams, and I feel like we're all NBA guys. So if you're on the team, I feel like you're able to help out.' McBride averaged a career-best 9.5 points per game last season off the bench, and shot 37 percent from three-point range. Next year could be a breakout season for him should he get an increased role.
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
INDYCAR Driver 'Happy to Not Get Hit' While Stuck in Blind Spot
In the closing laps of the Java House Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, INDYCAR driver Marcus Ericsson high-centered on the exit of turn six, lost control, and slid into the gravel and back onto the racing surface before stalling. He then sat there for several laps trying to get the race restarted while the course was under a local yellow in his sector. INDYCAR on Fox broadcaster James Hinchcliffe noted on the replay of Ericsson's crash that he was lucky to stop and not go further into the racing line to get collected by the full-speed traffic at the time of the incident. "So lucky to not continue going driver's left and be collected by another car," Hinchcliffe said. "That could've been much, much worse." The problem was that Ericsson was marooned, unable to start, sidelined on the asphalt as drivers continued, not seeing the No. 28 Andretti Global until they were within a few yards of it. The INDYCAR on Fox broadcast showed a portion of the course from Pato O'Ward's helmet cam, highlighting just how close the drivers were before Ericsson came into view. The full-course yellow was thrown after several laps, and the Andretti of Ericsson was brought back to the pits for a DNF with heavy damage to the floor of the race car. When Ericsson was first released from the race care center and asked if he thought the yellow was thrown late, he said he didn't know since he was too focused on getting his car going. "I don't know," Ericsson answered Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, "I was just trying to get the car started again, that was my main focus." Following the race, Ericsson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was happy to be safe following being stuck in a blind spot for multiple laps. "Happy to not get hit whilst sitting at a blind spot on the track for 3 laps..." Ericsson wrote. "Onto Portland." You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
