Giants WR Calvin Austin out for season with torn ACL

Calvin Austin III Suffers Season-Ending ACL Tear in Practice

The worst fears for the New York Giants and Calvin Austin III were confirmed after a solemn scene during Tuesday’s practice. Testing revealed that Austin tore his ACL while making a one-on-one cut against Deonte Banks, according to reporting from the New York Post. New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III (82) was injured during football practice on Tuesday. Noah K. Murray-New York Post. The injury brings an abrupt halt to a promising stretch for the receiver, who had emerged as a favorite target for quarterback Jaxson Dart throughout training camp.

The organization immediately recognized the gravity of the incident as practice came to a standstill while Austin was loaded onto a cart to leave the field. Team owner John Mara followed the cart to offer his well wishes. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the severity of the diagnosis, which guarantees Austin will miss the entire season.

Versatility and Roster Impact for the Giants

Austin had signed a one-year, $1.5 prove-it deal in March after specifically targeting the Giants in free agency. He was expected to fill the slot role previously held by Wan’Dale Robinson, who topped 1,000 receiving yards last season before leaving in free agency. During Saturday’s preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, Austin demonstrated his dynamic skill set by logging a 21-yard rush, two receptions for 24 yards, and two punt returns for 29 yards.

Head coach John Harbaugh had praised that exact flexibility just a day before the injury occurred on Monday, noting that Austin could line up across multiple positions according to team coverage. Austin spent the first three seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as Baltimore Ravens head coach, Harbaugh competed against him twice a year.

“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.”

John Harbaugh, head coach

Austin was primed to be the Giants’ No. 3 slot receiver, though that role would have been more limited than in some offenses because the Giants are expected to rely on heavy packages with a fullback and multiple tight ends, including Isaiah Likely in the slot, on early downs. 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, and that may have now changed.

Adjusting the Depth Chart and Special Teams

The sudden loss forces the Giants to recalibrate their offensive packages and roster decisions ahead of Sunday’s final cuts. While signs point to wide receiver Malik Nabers being back in the Giants lineup for Week 1 after tearing his ACL last season, one of their other wideouts won’t be joining him on the field. Austin’s absence means the Giants receiver depth chart looks set ahead of Sunday’s cuts: Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Malachi Fields, Braxton Berrios and Odell Beckham Jr. The team also views Dalen Cambre as a desirable addition to the practice squad if he passes through waivers. Alongside Nabers and Slayton, the Giants signed Darnell Mooney to a one-year deal in March. Mooney had arguably his best practice of the summer on Tuesday before and after Austin went down, and perhaps he slides into the slot in three-wide formations. He played at least 200 snaps inside in each of the last two seasons for the Falcons after actually playing more frequently in the slot than on the outside early in his career with the Bears under Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Special teams coordinator Chris Horton had been utilizing Austin as a backup punt returner.

“Anytime you see a player go down, your heart feels for those guys because you know how much they’ve invested into the game,” said special teams coordinator Chris Horton

Chris Horton, special teams coordinator

Odell Beckham Jr. Emerges as Roster Possibility

Austin’s absence directly alters the outlook for veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Until now, Beckham’s path to making the 53-man roster as a reserve had remained unclear because he doesn’t play special teams, leaving questions about whether there would be room for him. With Austin out of the picture, Beckham could be likelier to land a role on the 53-man roster when final cuts are made this weekend. New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. could gobble up the targets left behind for the Giants, according to reporting for the New York Post by Noah K. Murray.

In the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s practice, Braxton Berrios and Dalen Cambre took over for Austin in the slot, though that’s not maximizing the pecking order. The franchise faces crucial roster decisions before the weekend deadline as it absorbs the loss of a key offensive contributor.