By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Losing Calvin Austin to a season-ending knee injury means the New York Giants will be without a receiver who was expected to have a big role on offense.
They expect internal options to be able to fill that void.
The 27-year-old has a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to miss the season, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not revealed the extent of the injury.
Austin was having a strong camp and preseason with two catches for 24 yards in exhibition play last week at Miami and many more in practice from Jaxson Dart as one of the starting quarterback’s most popular options.
“Definitely impactful to our team because he was playing so well,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He was doing a great job across the board, offense and special teams. He had definitely carved out a role for us on our team.”
Darnell Mooney, also signed as a free agent in March, took Austin’s spot with the first-team offense. Depending how many wideouts the Giants keep on their 53-man roster, Austin’s absence could clear a path for Odell Beckham Jr. and punt returner Braxton Berrios to each make it.
Assistant general manager Brandon Brown said Tuesday was one of the best days of camp for Mooney and Beckham, the latter of whom is trying to show he still belongs in the NFL at 33.
“I think he’s had a good camp,” Harbaugh said of Beckham. “But I would say his best week of camp has come this week. He’s looked good and made numerous plays.”
Signed to a $1.5 million contract for this season, Austin had 89 catches for 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns in 51 games, counting the playoffs, over his first three seasons in the league, all with Pittsburgh. Harbaugh said he thought Austin was doing better Wednesday after the two texted multiple times since the injury happened.
“When you talk about doing things the right way, he’s done it ever since the first day he got here,” Brown said. “From offense to defense, there’s not anyone that can say a bad thing about him. The way he shows up every day, he’s a blueprint for working hard and going about your business the right way and being a professional.”
Malik Nabers walks off early
No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers, who is coming off his own torn ACL and is trending toward playing Sept. 13 against Dallas, walked off the field before the final set of team drills Wednesday.
Harbaugh said that “wasn’t part of the plan,” adding he would find out what happened while downplaying injury concerns.
“I’m sure it’s something with the trainer, I assume,” Harbaugh said. “But there’s no injury. We talked afterward. We always get the injury report right after. There was no talk about Malik that way.”
Harbaugh keeping it mysterious
Just like the first two preseason games, Harbaugh would not say whether Dart and the offensive starters would play in the finale Friday night against the Jets. He made it sound like an ongoing debate rather than a decision that had already been made.
“There would be things to be gained for those guys to play — defensively, as well — from a communications standpoint, but there’s risk,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just a balancing act of what we gain the most from with the least amount of risk. That’s what we’ve got to figure out.”
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