Steelers WR Suffers Hamstring Injury Against Lions

A Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver suffered an injury during the team's Week 16 bout with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

Steelers senior director of communications Burt Lauten has announced that Calvin Austin III is questionable to return to the contest with a hamstring injury.

#Steelers WR Calvin Austin III has a hamstring injury and is questionable to return to today’s game.
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) December 21, 2025

It's unclear when exactly Austin sustained his injury. Before departing the contest, he had one catch for eight yards on his lone target of the day.

Austin's Prior Injuries

Austin, a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2022, did not appear in a game during his rookie campaign due to a foot injury.

He'd go on to appear in all 34 of the team's contests between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, but he missed time during training camp this past summer with an abdominal injury.

Austin was cleared and ready to go by the time Week 1 came around, but he went down with a shoulder injury in Pittsburgh's Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Nov 2, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) catches a pass during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

He would go on to miss two-straight contests before making his return in primetime vs. the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

Austin had been dealing with a calf injury ahead of the Steelers' Week 15 contest against the Miami Dolphins, but he ended up suiting up for that game.

In 12 contests this season entering the day, Austin had posted 309 yards and two touchdowns on 27 catches while returning 12 punts for 81 yards.

Spreading the Ball Around

Even with Austin hampered due to his hamstring injury, Aaron Rodgers hasn't had any issue finding open targets all over the field against Detroit.

By the time Pittsburgh's third touchdown-scoring drive of the game came around, which ended in a 45-yard run by Jaylen Warren to put the team up 22-10, Rodgers had connected with nine different receivers.

The leader on that front is Kenneth Gainwell, who has hauled in five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown on an incredible grab at the end of the first half.

Adam Thielen is second in line with 49 yards on four catches in what's been the most productive of his three games as a Steeler to date.

The other players on that list include DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Darnell Washington and Scotty Miller alongside Warren and Austin.

Jonnu Smith is the 10th-different player Rodgers has targeted, though he has yet to come down with a catch in the game.

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