In unfortunate and unsurprising news, New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III will miss all of 2026 with a torn ACL. Initial reporting didn't sound good, to say the least, revealing that he was carted off the practice field with a "serious knee injury."
Alas, Austin's season-ending diagnosis was foretold, and his absence will be felt. He was set to play a significant role as the Giants' primary slot option after coming over from the Pittsburgh Steelers via free agency in March. Losing him leaves a paradoxically massive void for someone with such a slight frame (5-foot-9, 162 pounds).
It's fair to wonder who will step in for Austin, especially on such short notice. We're deep into training camp, and Week 1 is right around the corner; who, if anyone, can New York bring in to replace him?
Do the G-Men tap into the open market for pass-catching help, as they've already done this offseason? Perhaps they can scoop up another team's scraps as the roster cutdown deadline approaches (Aug. 30). Frankly, neither alternative is very appealing or likely to be fruitful, which is why an in-house solution might be the optimal path forward.
The question becomes: which Giants playmaker is best suited to fill Austin's void? Can star wideout Malik Nabers, who's notably recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus, work inside more, and would that maximize his value? Does third-round rookie Malachi Fields get the opportunity to be the big slot many envisioned during the scouting process?
There's actually a Door No. 3 here, albeit a bit unconventional. In fact, New York has already flirted with the idea — deploying newcomer Isaiah Likely as an "F" tight end.
Isaiah Likely could quietly solve the Giants’ Calvin Austin III problem
Four of Likely's six snaps in the Giants' preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings came from the slot, and he was targeted twice. That was before Austin got hurt, too.
With Austin no longer in the picture, Likely can soak up whatever's left on the interior. Interestingly, they each win in similar areas of the field despite their wildly different physical traits. Both can do damage on the outside but are at their best between the numbers, yet the former may even be more of a threat.
A foot fracture early in training camp derailed Likely's 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens before it began. He eventually returned to limited/inconsistent usage behind incumbent starter Mark Andrews. Rest assured, though, the 2022 fourth-round pick is one of the NFL's more dynamic receiving tight ends, specifically from the slot.
43 TEs recorded at least 10 slot targets in 2024, including the playoffs, and Likely was among them. Here's where he ranked in the following key categories, courtesy of Pro Football Focus ($):
- Second in yards per reception from the slot (14.1)
- 4th in yards after catch per reception from the slot (5.5)
- Seventh in yards per route run from the slot (1.63)
- 10th in receiving yards from the slot (311)
- 10th in receiving first downs from the slot (16)
For better or worse, Likely is a tight end in name only. New York knows exactly what he has to offer as a true weapon, given his connection to head coach John Harbaugh from their Baltimore days. Now is the time to adjust accordingly.
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