The Giants’ receiver depth took a hit Tuesday when Calvin Austin III left practice with what was described as a “serious knee injury,” a troubling development for a team already leaning on a wideout group with plenty of uncertainty behind Malik Nabers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Austin was carted off the field after the August 25 practice and wrote, “Giants WR Calvin Austin was carted off today from practice with what one source described as a 'serious knee injury,'”
For New York, the timing is rough. Austin was one of the offseason additions expected to help stabilize the room and had been positioned for a slot role. With him now in question, that job likely shifts to Braxton Berrios.
The Giants enter the 2026 season with optimism around their young offensive pieces, but the injury concerns surrounding Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Jaxson Dart make depth even more important. At receiver, that need is obvious. Behind Nabers, the group includes Darius Slayton, Austin, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Berrios, and Odell Beckham Jr.
The full extent of Austin’s injury is still unknown, but the word “serious” is enough to make this a major concern. Austin, 27, was a former fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and totaled 84 catches for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns across 48 games in three seasons.
Last year in Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers, he caught 31 of 55 targets for 372 yards and three scores.
Now his status clouds a receiver room that already looked fragile, and it leaves the Giants waiting on what comes next for one of their newest pass-catchers.
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Giants Suddenly Have A Troubling New Question At Receiver
A routine 1-on-1 drill took an unwelcome turn for the Giants when Calvin Austin went down with a knee injury while running a pass route without contact. The play came against Deonte Banks, and the scene drew immediate attention from co-owner John Mara, who was reportedly present and went over to console Austin after the injury. It was a jarring moment for a receiver the Giants had counted on to help fill the void left by WanDale Robinson.
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Giants Receiver Injury Just Raised A Bigger Roster Question
Practice took a worrying turn when Calvin Austin went down while running a route during 1-on-1 drills, and the scene quickly shifted from routine camp work to real concern. The Giants wide receiver had to be carted off the field after suffering a serious knee injury, leaving teammates and staff to absorb the kind of setback that can change the feel of a summer practice in an instant.
MRI results are still pending, so the full scope of the injury is not yet known, but the timing alone gives the Giants another roster question to sort through. With camp injuries often forcing quick adjustments, the team now has to wait and see whether Austin is facing a short-term absence or something much more complicated. [Read more 🡒]