One of the most devastating injuries in the NFL is a non-contact lower-body injury. Especially when it occurs during offseason workouts. On Friday, the New York Giants saw a key contributor go down with what could be a season-ending injury.
Reports surfaced that former All-Pro kick and punt returner Gunner Olszewski suffered an injury that is expected to sideline him for the season. Early indications suggest he sustained an Achilles injury.
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The news comes as a significant blow to a player the Giants quietly uncovered as a valuable asset in 2023. Since arriving in New York, Olszewski has served as the team’s primary return specialist and a key contributor on special teams.
New York Giants wide receiver Gunner Olszewski (80) gets ready to complete a pass, Sunday, January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford.
The lone silver lining for the Giants is their offseason signing of Calvin Austin III. Austin brings extensive experience as both a kick and punt returner from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After Olszewski’s departure from Pittsburgh in 2023, Austin took over as the Steelers’ primary return specialist and held that role through 2025. He was also expected to compete for the WR3 and WR4 spots in New York’s offense.
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Austin entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in the same offseason that Olszewski signed with Pittsburgh. A foot injury requiring season-ending surgery forced him to miss his entire rookie season in 2022.
He developed into a reliable WR3 during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. As a returner, Austin amassed 72 punt returns for 639 yards and a touchdown during his tenure with the Steelers. He also recorded 84 receptions for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. Still, the Giants would undoubtedly prefer to have both Olszewski and Austin available rather than losing Olszewski for what appears to be the entire season.