New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III will miss the 2026 season with a torn ACL in his right knee, according to a league source who wasn’t permitted to speak publicly.

The veteran receiver was carted away from Giants practice on Tuesday after suffering the knee injury while running a route during one-on-one drills. Austin was clutching at his knee while on the ground, clearly in a lot of pain. While the specifics of his injury weren’t known at the time, his teammates’ reaction was telling. All of the wide receivers and defensive backs couldn’t even look as trainers attended to Austin.

The rest of the team, which was at the other end of the field doing another drill, came down to wish Austin well before he was carted off. The receivers and defensive backs held a lengthy prayer circle until practice resumed.

Giants bubble players need to make their move ahead of cut down day

Dan Duggan

Austin, who signed a one-year $1.5 million deal in free agency with New York, was expected to start in the slot for the Giants and has made a good impression on coach John Harbaugh throughout training camp and the preseason.

“It’s pretty clear all the things he does well, ” Harbaugh said Monday. “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.”

Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on Calvin Austin III pic.twitter.com/fFMXKyk3tP

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) August 25, 2026

Austin, a fourth-round pick of the Steelers in 2022, spent four years in Pittsburgh before joining the Giants in free agency. He hauled in 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns last season. His best season came in 2024, when he caught 36 passes for 548 yards and four scores.

Austin’s season-ending injury could have big ramifications on the Giants’ depth chart, especially with cut day looming this Sunday.

Fellow veterans Darnell Mooney and Braxton Berrios could be called upon to replace Austin in the slot. The Giants, of course, also have Malik Nabers and rookie Malachi Fields on the depth chart, with deep threat Darius Slayton still in the mix.

However, one of the big questions on Giants fans’ minds following Austin’s injury is whether that will create a roster spot for the Giants to keep fan-favorite Odell Beckham Jr. Earlier this week, we projected a 53-man roster that did not include Beckham. However, we did have Austin making the initial cut, so if Austin’s injury is significant, perhaps Beckham would have a better chance of securing a spot on the Week 1 roster.

Beckham, who has had a lackluster camp and preseason, is competing with fellow receivers Isaiah Hodgins, Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt and Xavier Gipson, as well as roster-bubble players at other positions.