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Steelers WR Calvin Austin Unlikely to Return This Season

Time is running out for Pittsburgh Steelers' receiver Calvin Austin to return to the field.

Stephen Thompson

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PITTSBURGH -- The window for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin to return from injury is rapidly closing. The team has until tomorrow to activate their fourth round selection out of Memphis. That said, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said a return for Austin is not on his radar. 

"I hadn't asked. It's the early portion of the week. We'd been more into schematics and game planning. I'm sure I'll get some clarification later, maybe even later today. It just hadn't been a high priority for me at this juncture."

Tomlin said even if Austin was healthy this week, his lack of live-game experience would have made a full return to play difficult. Austin hasn't played a real football game in the NFL since being drafted - preseason or otherwise. 

"This guy hadn't played in a stadium yet anyway," Tomlin said. "He hadn't played in a preseason stadium and so it's more about development with him. That's the perspective I have. I'm just being realistic. Up or down, active or inactive, his overall readiness this weekend is probably not a high probability." 

And with his participation for this week not likely, the odds he will be lifted from the injured reserve at all. Tomorrow's deadline is rapidly approaching and it doesn't appear that Austin will meet it. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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