CALVIN AUSTIN III
Wide Receiver
After blocking three kicks – 2 field goals and 1 punt – over the previous three games, what does a special teams unit to for an encore. How about a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Calvin Austin III was the guy who returned that punt for a touchdown, which broke a 9-9 tie in the third quarter, and then he added a 29-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that staked the Steelers to a 23-9 lead on the way to a 26-18 victory over the New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium.
Austin finished the game with 3 catches for 54 yards and the punt return to record the first 2-touchdown game of his young NFL career. He is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were OLB T.J. Watt, who had 7 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, with the strip-sack-recovery coming with 3 minutes left in the game with the Steelers protecting a 26-18 lead at the time; OLB Alex Highsmith, who had 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and 6 hits on the quarterback; RB Najee Harris, who rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries (6.0 average) and caught 3 passes for 17 yards; QB Russell Wilson, who completed 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) for 278 yards, with 1 touchdown, no interceptions, and a rating of 114.9; and CB Beanie Bishop, who had 5 tackles and 1 interception with 34 seconds remaining and sent the Steelers into victory formation.
