Austin caught four of nine targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Falcons. With Chris Olave (blood clots) out for the regular-season finale, Austin filled the role of WR1 for Tyler Shough and drew a team-high nine targets. Austin ended up appearing in eight games for the Saints this season and finished with 13 catches for 140 yards and his first career touchdown. The 25-year-old is under contract through the 2026 campaign but likely won't be guaranteed a roster spot next summer.
Austin compiled four receptions (on nine targets) for 37 yards during Sunday's 19-17 defeat versus the Falcons. Austin led the Saints in targets with No. 1 wide receiver Chris Olave (illness) inactive. The second-year wideout tallied four more than the next closest trio of pass-catchers in Dante Pettis, Audric Estime and Juwan Johnson. This caps off a solid close to the season for Austin, as he stepped up in an injury-riddled wide receiver room, totaling 13 catches (on 22 targets) for 140 yards and one touchdown. After two seasons spent between New Orleans' practice squad and active roster, Austin has now accumulated 291 receiving yards in 16 career regular-season appearances.
Austin is positioned as one of New Orleans' top starting wideouts for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to Chris Olave (illness) being ruled out for Week 18. Austin has already played more than 80 percent of offensive snaps in back-to-back games, in which span he's secured six of eight targets for 70 yards and one score. He saw those expanded opportunities due to the absence of Mason Tipton (groin), who has since been placed on IR. With Olave now also out for the regular-season finale due a blood clot in his lung, Austin appears positioned as the No. 1 wideout for a receiving corps that also includes Dante Pettis and practice-squad players Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure. Austin will work to make the most of his elevated opportunity versus Atlanta and continue demonstrating chemistry with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.