New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee during a training camp practice on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The injury deals a major blow to the Giants’ slot receiver rotation just ahead of roster cuts.
Calvin Austin III Suffers Season-Ending Torn ACL in Practice
New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a one-on-one drill at training camp on Tuesday, August 25. The 27-year-old wide receiver went down without contact while running a route against cornerback Deonte Banks, immediately grabbing his knee in visible pain as the practice field fell silent.
The solemn scene at practice left little doubt about the severity of the setback. Trainers quickly brought out a cart, and the entire team stopped what it was doing to wish Austin well before he left the field. Wide receivers and defensive backs gathered in a lengthy prayer circle, while Giants owner John Mara walked over to the side field to offer words of encouragement. Testing later confirmed the organization’s worst fears, with an Associated Press source verifying the torn ACL.
Contract Details, Team Expectations, and Offensive Role
The loss of Austin disrupts New York’s offensive planning under new head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in the offseason—with incentives worth up to $4.5 million—Austin was brought in primarily to replace the production of Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed with the Tennessee Titans.
Austin had spent the first four years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Memphis.
“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. 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. … 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 his whole career.”
John Harbaugh, New York Giants Head Coach
Roster Ripple Effects: Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios in the Spotlight
Austin’s absence reshapes the Giants’ wide receiver depth chart ahead of Sunday’s league roster cuts. Alongside star receiver Malik Nabers—who is on track to play September 13 against Dallas after recovering from his own ACL and meniscus injuries—the team features Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, and rookie Malachi Fields.
In the slot, veteran Braxton Berrios stepped in with the first-team offense during Tuesday’s practice following the injury. Meanwhile, fan favorite Odell Beckham Jr., who rejoined the franchise in June after sitting out last season and was previously viewed as a roster bubble candidate, now appears poised to make the 53-man roster to help offset the loss of Austin in the passing game for quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Worth a look
