With Diontae Johnson set to miss time with a hamstring injury, Calvin Austin has an opportunity to showcase more than what we already know him to be.
His speed is his greatest tool, with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash out of the NFL Combine in early 2022 bringing eyes to an otherwise perceived "small" receiver who stood at 5-foot-8 and weighed 170 pounds out of Memphis. After being drafted in the fourth round, he was unable to play in his official rookie season because of a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot that was aggravated and forced him into surgery.
Now, in Game 2 of his NFL career, he is immediately being thrust into a key role -- in prime time on Monday Night Football -- against an AFC North opponent.
"It's just about coming here, showing up each day, and working," Austin said Wednesday. "(His role) will be figured out throughout the week, and (the coaches) will put me in a solid position to succeed. ... Obviously his quickness and releases and route nuances. I've just been watching him a lot throughout camp and stuff, so just how he can create that separation, that's something that, definitely, I want to emulate."
Though he might be classified as a burner-type receiver who just runs "go" routes or might be pigeon-holed as a punt returner and nothing more, Austin showed some flashes in Sunday's 30-7 defeat to the 49ers, even for how poor the offense and Kenny Pickett performed as a whole.
Austin caught all six of his targets for 37 yards and was the Steelers' third-leading receiver and was targeted the third-most frequently against the 49ers. He slid into Johnson's role and played a complement to Allen Robinson's five catches for 64 yards (on a team-high eight targets) and George Pickens' five catches for 36 yards. Austin's longest play went for 13 yards in the fourth quarter, though he was unable to record any yards after making the catch.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, though, that is not an indicator that Austin was unable to get open. Austin's 8.4 yards of cushion per target was second in the NFL to the Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 8.6 yards of cushion per target in Week 1.
"(The confidence) has always been high in Calvin," Pickett said. "He does a great job, he works so hard, always where I need him to be. So I think that's why we've had success working together, so I'm excited to get back out there Monday and continue that success."
In addition, his 3.2 yards of separation per target led all Steelers pass catchers in Week 1. The difference between "cushion" and "separation," per Next Gen Stats, is that cushion takes into account the defender Austin lined up against on all targets, while separation accounts for the nearest defender to him at the time of the catch or the incompletion. In Austin's case from Sunday, this accounts for all six receptions.
"I think that Calvin has done everything well," Robinson said. "Through the course of the preseason, training camp, and things like that, he's continued to get better each and every day. Calvin has a unique skillset. I think he used that on Sunday."
For being labeled as a "burner" of sorts, Austin did not run downfield often on Sunday. He averaged just 3.5 targeted air yards, which is a measure of how far downfield he was at the time of being targeted. That accounts for just 6.5% of the Steelers' targeted air yards in Week 1. Seven players league-wide caught 100% of their targets in Week 1 and, of those seven players only the 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk was targeted more than Austin at eight times.
Replacing Johnson, though, is going to be a team effort, Matt Canada said on Thursday.
"Obviously not just Calvin. All of the wideouts, their roles are going to increase," Canada said. "That's going to be part of the deal. Calvin, his first game, he made some plays, did some things, so all guys are going to have to step up. Obviously Diontae's a big part of our offense, so it's not just going to be one guy."
Johnson injured his hamstring on the Steelers' first offensive play of the second half and was almost immediately ruled out for the rest of the game. Up to that point he was Pickett's most-targeted receiver with six, though he was able to haul in just three of those. The play on which he was injured was a 26-yard reception, his longest of the day.
"Just trying to make a play," Johnson said before Thursday's practice. "Put my foot in the ground and just fell after that. Hamstring gave out. I can just move forward and try to get back to my teammates."
Johnson said there has not been a decision made yet regarding if he will land on injured reserve. He also said he is unsure of how long he will be out.
"Just a little setback," Johnson said. "Stuff happens. Out of my control. All I can do is just keep a level head and just continue to get back, try to get back to my teammates."
Johnson was just as efficient as Austin in terms of gaining cushion from his defender, as his 7.9 yards on average tied for 11th in the NFL in Week 1. However, 49ers defenders were able to rally to him, as he posted just 2.8 yards of separation per target. Johnson was able to turn and gain yards after the catch, as his 8.4 per reception was fourth-highest in the league. he also posted 35 YAC per reception above the expected, which was third-highest in the league. Austin averaged just 2.7 YAC per reception.
If Austin is going to assume Johnson's role as an outside receiver, then he will have to drive that YAC figure up. But, it remains an upward trend that he was able to gain cushion and, with respect to Steelers receivers, separation in Week 1.
"Just go in there and be yourself," Johnson said regarding advice for Austin. "Don't try to do too much, don't try to change the game. Just because your role is going to be bigger this week. Just keep being yourself, know what I'm saying? I'm always there for Calvin. I'm always going to share stuff. He's a pro, so all I can do is keep giving him little things to get better at. Whatever he feels like he can get better at, just being there for him. He's just going to continue to get better, and we'll see what he can do."
