Azzanni heaped praise on Austin, who he deemed “a legit NFL receiver” who has been “overlooked” by the league and members of the media. Austin, according to Azzanni, will “bite your face off” as a run blocker and has show great toughness as a pass catcher. “Everyone else is battling for a spot and it’s going to be by committee,” Azzanni added. While Steelers coaches have talked up second-year WR Roman Wilson as a potential No. 2 wideout behind DK Metcalf, Azzanni made it sound like Austin as the WR2 is a done deal. Austin in 2024 had 36 receptions for 548 yards and four touchdowns. He was targeted on around 15 percent of his pass routes, a low rate by any standard. Whoever takes over as the No. 2 receiver in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense will struggle to be fantasy relevant in a low-volume pass offense.

Austin missed the entirety of his rookie season with a foot injury and then played sparingly in 2023, catching 17 passes for 183 yards and one score. The speedy wideout earned a larger role in 2024 and caught 36 passes for 548 yards and four scores. Austin quietly finished the season third on the Steelers in yards and second in touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, returning one punt for a touchdown. Austin has likely topped out a splash-play specialist, but that will keep on the Steelers’ roster for a contract year in 2025.

Austin had gone for 65 yards in his previous two contests, but didn’t even reach the halfway point of that mark in the blowout loss. The 25-year-old did most of his damage in the second half, and damage might be too strong of a word. Austin will be in the WR5 vicinity for the final game of the regular season against the Bengals.

A 44-yard acrobatic grab down the right sideline in the second half propelled Austin to a team-leading 65 yards through the air, leading the team in receiving for the second consecutive game in the absence of George Pickens. The Steelers have dropped two straight games to fall into a tie atop the division with the Ravens. With only two games remaining in the regular season, next week’s matchup against the 14-1 Chiefs could prove pivotal in the final standings in the AFC North.