Calvin Austin, who looked like he had earned the starting slot receiver job with the New York Giants, suffered what could be a “serious knee injury” during Tuesday’s practice.
Austin went down “without contact” while running a pass route. Reportedly, co-owner John Mara was even part of the group trying to console Austin.
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Ryan Dunleavy reported that “Austin was working a 1-on-1 in-cut route against Deonte Banks when his knee buckled and he groaned in instant pain.”
The Giants signed Austin after losing slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who topped 1,000 receiving yards last season, in free agency. He had been one of quarterback Jaxson Dart‘s favorite targets throughout training camp, and appeared to be a lock to make the roster and play a significant role on offense.
In Saturday’s preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, Austin showed his versatility with a 21-yard rush, two receptions for 24 yards, and two punt returns for 29 yards.
On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh had praised the surprising versatility of the 5-foot-9, 162-pound Austin.
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“It’s pretty clear all the things he does well. And the nice thing about Calvin is that he can play all three spots. You can move him around in any one of those positions,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a quote, unquote, smaller receiver, and yet he can go outside. He’s played outside a lot. You don’t see that that often. So, he gives us a lot of versatility that way, and that – kind of everything you ask him to do, he does it well. He’s very reliable. Runs the right routes, makes catches. He’s been that way kind of his whole career.”
Austin spent the first three seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As Baltimore Ravens head coach, Harbaugh competed against him twice a year.
If Austin’s injury is as severe as early reports indicate, it could open a spot on the roster for Odell Beckham Jr. Even though Beckham has been a sentimental favorite to earn a roster spot, until now reality has been that there might not have been room for him.
That may have now changed.
