Giants fear season-ending Achilles injury for return specialist Gunner Olszewski
Early indications point to an Achilles tear for Olszewski, who recorded 898 return yards in 2025. The club has turned to Calvin Austin III to fill the void.
The New York Giants are bracing for a significant loss to their special teams unit after return specialist Gunner Olszewski sustained a non-contact lower-body injury during Friday’s offseason workouts. Early medical indications suggest the injury involves his Achilles tendon, with reports indicating he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Olszewski, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots, established himself as a premier returner, earning All-Pro honours in 2020. After a brief and unsuccessful stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was released midway through the 2023 season, Olszewski signed with the Giants’ practice squad later that year. He was quickly promoted to the active roster and, following a missed 2024 season due to a groin injury, returned in 2025 to reclaim his primary return role.
In the 2025 season, Olszewski recorded 50 total returns for 898 yards. He also contributed to the offensive side of the ball, logging 10 receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. His potential absence represents a substantial blow to a player the Giants quietly identified as a valuable asset during the 2023 acquisition window.
To mitigate the impact of Olszewski’s injury, the Giants have signed Calvin Austin III, who brings extensive experience as a kick and punt returner from his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Austin served as the Steelers’ primary return specialist from 2023 through 2025, amassing 72 punt returns for 639 yards and a touchdown. He is also expected to compete for the WR3 and WR4 spots in New York’s offensive rotation.
Austin’s NFL journey began as a fourth-round pick by the Steelers, though he missed his rookie season in 2022 due to a foot injury requiring season-ending surgery. He developed into a reliable wide receiver during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, recording 84 receptions for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite Austin’s proven track record, the Giants would undoubtedly prefer to retain both Olszewski and Austin for the upcoming campaign.
