It’s still early in the 2025-26 NFL season, and that’s good news for Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers. The team is still figuring out who it is, largely due to some big-time changes during the offseason.
The switch to Aaron Rodgers at quarterback has the future Hall of Famer adjusting to life with a whole new set of teammates. One of them, wide receiver Calvin Austin III, is quickly rising up his list of favorites.
That’s ironic, because the young pass catcher has already made one significant mistake this season.
Aaron Rodgers Compares Calvin Austin III to Former Packers Teammate
Austin’s response to adversity is what is winning Rodgers over, though. Speaking to the media ahead of Week 4’s game in Dublin, Ireland, the 41-year-old tipped his cap to someone 15 years his junior.
Rodgers says Austin reminds him of running back Aaron Jones, his longtime former teammate on the Green Bay Packers.
“Well, he’s a great kid,” Rodgers said. He reminds me a lot of Aaron Jones, who was one of my all-time favorite teammates, disposition wise. Both Jones and Calvin are very positive, happy guys. They want to please. They want to do the right thing all the time. They’re very accountable, and Calvin just has an incredible play speed.”
Austin delivered a game-winning touchdown grab in Week 3’s triumph over the New England Patriots. Rodgers wants to see more of that moving forward.
“I felt good about the matchup on third down with the game on the line, and he made an incredible play,” Rodgers said. “He knows I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. Love to get the ball to him and DK [Metcalf] a lot more. But the way teams are playing us, we’ve had to be a little more patient. We’re trying to run the ball. I think we made some improvement in that phase last week, but there’s a lot more room for improvement.”
Austin turned plenty of heads during the Steelers’ offseason program. Now, he’s endearing himself to a quarterback who’s had his fair share of standout coworkers over the years.
Rodgers Ready for Challenge of Facing Brian Flores-Led Vikings Defense
This weekend brings a new challenge for Austin, Rodgers and the Steelers. Sunday morning’s game presents a battle of 2-1 clubs. Despite being led by backup quarterback Carson Wentz, Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings are no slouches.
That’s largely due to defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He’s quickly building a reputation as a mad scientist and someone who throws plenty at opposing offenses. There isn’t much Rodgers hasn’t seen at this point, but he maintains a ton of respect for Flores.
Ahead of Week 4’s international bout, Rodgers said there are “not any holes” on the Vikings‘ defense. The blend of coaching, game plan, personnel and in-game execution is hard to stop.
“I mean, it’s a Flores defense,” Rodgers said. “He’s a phenomenal coach. He was here a few years ago, and it’s good to see him in a position of leadership. I feel like, hopefully, I mean probably should at some point, get another head coaching job based on the way that he’s coached defense last couple years. The schemes they run and the way they’re coached, there’s a lot of really good chemistry and continuity on that side that doesn’t just come from players. There’s a schematic part of that that’s really impressive. Then the players obviously make it go once the call is made.”
The numbers from SumerSports back up Rodgers’ praise. Through three weeks of play, Minnesota boasts the NFL’s top defense in EPA/play surrendered by a wide margin. The difference between them and the second-place Jacksonville Jaguars (0.12) is the same gap between the Jags and the 14th-place Arizona Cardinals. Against the pass, the difference between first-ranked Minnesota and second-ranked Jacksonville (0.31) equals the margin between second and 22nd place (Chicago Bears).
It’s safe to say Rodgers will need young studs like Austin to keep stacking good plays together.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Makes Big-Time Comparison for Young WR