Prior to the 2023 season, QB Kenny Pickett had some strong comments pertaining to second-year WR Calvin Austin III. The two were selected together in the 2022 draft, but Austin missed his entire rookie season due to a foot injury. Pickett told the media prior to the start of the season that Austin was “going to play a huge role in this offense.” Reflecting back on the season, that never came to pass, although he did start out the year with a lot more targets and usage than he ended it with.
Austin made his regular season debut in 2023 with six targets and six receptions against the San Francisco 49ers.