The New York Giants have suffered a big blow at wide receiver, with Calvin Austin III suffering a torn ACL, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported.
Austin suffered the non-contact injury during Tuesday’s practice and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season.
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“Giants WR Calvin Austin did, in fact, suffer a season-ending torn ACL during Tuesday’s practice; as feared,” Schefter wrote on X. “He was in a contract year and primed to replace former Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson.”
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Austin’s season-ending injury reportedly happened during a one-on-one drill with Deonte Banks. The receiver planted his foot and went down almost immediately, holding his knee in obvious pain.
Medical staff quickly surrounded Austin and eventually brought out a cart to take him away from the practice field.
The news generated discussion on X, with several NFL fans questioning whether the artificial playing surface played a role in the injury. Some called for teams to move practices back to natural grass to reduce the risk of more injuries.
“They need to practice on grass, not turf. This is what happens,” one fan said.
“I find it interesting. How many World Cup games and practices this summer – didn’t hear about 1 ACL or Achilles injury. How many players? How many teams? In the NFL, they drop like flies! Why? It has to be more than the turf,” one person added.
“Every year, at least 7 or 8 ACLs happen cause of these garbage a** turfs. Nothing changes,” one said.
“MetLife Turf vs 9ers Electrical Substation,” one fan commented.
“The turf strikes again. SMH,” another said.
“Is that 2 season ending injuries already for the turf 😭,” one person added.
Austin was expected to take on a big role with the Giants this year. The team signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract this offseason with the hope that he will make the slot receiver role his own.
His NFL career had previously been spent entirely with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2022. Austin played 48 games for the Steelers, finishing his time with the team with 84 receptions, 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Austin caught two passes for 24 yards in the Giants’ 26-3 preseason win over the Miami Dolphins last weekend. Now, the ACL injury means he will be sidelined for the entire 2026 campaign.
Braxton Berrios and Odell Beckham Jr. set for bigger roles after Calvin Austin’s season-ending injury
The New York Giants will have to adjust their plans at wide receiver after Calvin Austin suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
They could now rely on Braxton Berrios and Odell Beckham Jr. to fill the void. Berrios immediately moved into the first-team offense at the slot following Austin’s injury, while Beckham has continued to make a case for himself during training camp by showing the ability to get open.
Even with his performances, Beckham’s roster status remains uncertain. Before Austin went down, the Giants were expected to have six receivers on the final roster, with Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney and Austin projected to take five of those places. Austin’s injury has now opened the competition, giving Berrios and Beckham an opportunity to claim a roster spot.
The Giants will face the New York Jets in their final preseason game on Friday, giving coach John Harbaugh one last chance to evaluate the receiver group before the roster is trimmed ahead of cut day.
Edited by Habib Timileyin