Steelers Get Positive Injury Update on Calvin Austin III
The Pittsburgh Steelers feature one of the best tight end rooms in the NFL. But in Week 8, the team’s offense could also have back one of its starting wide receivers — Calvin Austin III.
According to the Steelers official injury report, Austin fully practiced Wednesday. It was the first time the fourth-year wideout was back on the field without limitations since suffering his shoulder injury in Week 4.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor also reported Austin was back at practice.
Austin left in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on September 28. Initial reports indicated that he would need a stint on injured reserve. If the team had placed Austin on IR, then he would have been sidelined through Week 9.
But it appears he has a shot to play in Week 8. The Steelers will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
Austin has posted 10 catches for 139 yards with two touchdowns in four games this season. He had 548 yards on 36 receptions with four scores in 17 games last year.
Steelers’ Calvin Austin III Trending Toward Return in Week 8
The Steelers passing attack has managed to survive without Austin and with its lack of receiving depth thanks to the team’s tight ends. In Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, all four receiving touchdowns for Pittsburgh were tight end catches.
But if Austin returns, the Steelers will have another receiver opposite DK Metcalf who can take the top off a defense. Last season, Austin averaged 15.2 yards per catch.
Without Austin the past two games, Roman Wilson has played more. Wilson, though, still isn’t getting a lot of targets.
In Week 7, he caught two passes for 17 yards. While that’s not an impressive line, it was the first time Wilson had two catches in an NFL game.
Should Austin return, Wilson can move back into his WR3 role. The Steelers also have Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek for receiver depth.
Austin returns punts on special teams as well. The past two games, Ke’Shawn Williams, as a practice squad elevation, has returned punts in place of Austin.
Steelers’ Zach Frazier Limited at Wednesday’s Practice
In general, the Steelers seem to be getting healthier every week. But one surprising addition to the injury report Wednesday was center Zach Frazier.
The second-year center was limited because of a calf injury.
Frazier didn’t miss any offensive snaps against the Bengals last Thursday. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also didn’t mention the center’s injury after the game or during his Tuesday press conference.
It’s not clear whether that’s because Frazier’s ailment is minor or if it’s a new injury. How much Frazier practices Thursday and Friday will better indicate what his availability could be in Week 8.
Along with Austin, rookie quarterback Will Howard and linebacker Malik Harrison fully practiced. If either are going to dress in Week 8, the Steelers will have to activate them.
The team opened Howard’s 21-day practice window Wednesday. The Steelers did that one day after releasing quarterback Logan Woodside from the practice squad.
Veterans T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward didn’t practice Wednesday. Both received a rest day.
Seattle Kraken’s three-goalie rotation prompts more questions than answers after beatdown by Washington Capitals: ‘I don’t know how long you can go with this’
The Seattle Kraken are taking an unorthodox approach to their goaltending situation this season, running a three-man rotation in net that includes Joey Daccord, Philip Grubauer, and Matt Murray
Kraken goaltending coach Colin Zulianello explained to NHL.com at the start of the campaign that the odd arrangement is designed to prevent “fatigue reps” or over-practicing. Having more goalies essentially means the players see less ice time, which minimizes the opportunity to get lazy, and allows them to have more energy to play at a high level in games.
“Sometimes the quantity [of reps] that we receive in training camp creates some reps that are fatigue reps. You can pick up bad habits in that environment,” Zulianello said. “They’re leaving the day feeling accomplished and tired enough, but not too tired.”
So far this season, though, Daccord has been the workhorse, starting five of the team’s first seven games. Meanwhile, Grubauer and Murray have seen just one game each in the crease.
While there might be a lot of consideration behind the move, having a three-headed goalie monster out of choice baffles Kraken Hockey Network color commentator Eddie Olczyk who shared his thoughts during the Kraken’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
“I mean, I don’t like it. Let’s just call it what it is, I don’t like it,” he said to his broadcast booth partner John Forslund.
Murray took the loss against the Caps, his 2025-26 debut, stopping 30 of 33 shots he faced. He gave up two even-strength goals and a power-play strike in just under 58 minutes on the ice.
Olczyk delivered his critical assessment when the Kraken were down 3-0 almost midway through regulation, struggling to see the team’s vision as sustainable.
“I understand the process [GM] Jason Botterill and his staff thought this thing through, and [for head] coach [Lane] Lambert it’s not easy, too, because when you have an extra goaltender, you’re short one position player,” Olczyk said. “Now, when you look at everything that’s happened, all the injuries and stuff, you’re in a spot. So a lot of things have to happen, you gotta do the gymnastics with the [salary] cap, all that kind of stuff.”
NHL teams are allowed a maximum of 23 active players on a roster which typically gets split as 18 skaters and two goalies dressing for a game with three healthy scratches. Seattle’s roster has only 20 skaters lately due to Murray’s inclusion, meaning Lambert has one less depth option in the case of injuries. Five Kraken players entered Tuesday night’s contest on injured reserve and two additional skaters were listed as day-to-day but did not play against the Caps.
The team currently has just over $1.11 million in cap space, according to Puckpedia. Grubauer’s contract alone comes with a $5.9 million cap hit and the 33-year-old is in the penultimate season of his deal which was signed in 2021. The 2018 Stanley Cup champion with the Caps struggled for Seattle with the statistically worst season of his NHL career (3.49 GAA, .875 SV %) last year. He was waived and subsequently sent to the AHL for a month-long stint.
Instead of buying Grubauer out of his contract over the summer, Botterill reaffirmed his confidence in the German and seemingly is hoping he’ll find his stride again with Lambert’s guidance – something Grubauer would be familiar with from that 2018 championship run.
“It’s great to hear that he has that belief in me,” Grubauer told the Seattle Times in September. “Last year was a little tough, not playing too many games.”
Ironically, with this three-man setup Grubauer will likely play less than he did last year all in the name of improving form and stamina. However, Seattle (3-2-2) has lost four of its last five games, including a Monday night tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers in which Daccord was pulled after surrendering five goals on 21 shots. Olczyk doesn’t believe Lambert can allow that pattern to continue and still employ all three backstops.
“I think in unique situations I get it. I don’t know how long the team is going to roster three goalies, that’s probably the fairest question,” he pondered. “Joey is obviously the guy, Grubi played well in Ottawa and Matt Murray gets his opportunity in this situation [against Washington] but it’ll be interesting how it’ll play out. Now, I don’t know how long you can go with this because the season is obviously so long and things happen.”
Teams keeping three goalies on their roster throughout a season is a rarity but not unheard of. In 2023, five clubs began the season with a rotating trio in net but only one qualified for the playoffs (LA Kings).
