Wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. was an afterthought to most when signed by the New Orleans Saints just before the 2024 training camp. While Austin didn’t make the initial roster that summer, he was kept on the practice squad. When injuries obliterated the receiving unit in 2024, Austin was pressed into duty and wound up catching 11 passes for 151 yards in eight games.

Even with 48 receptions for 888 yards and 7 scores as a senior with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2021, Austin was overlooked in the 2022 NFL draft. He’d be signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but spent the 2022 season on their practice squad. After being released by the Jaguars in 2023 training camp, Austin would be signed by the UFL Birmingham Stallions. He’d catch 15 passes for 253 yards with the eventual UFL champions before being released from his contract to join the Saints. Now in 2025, he’d fight to make a dent in the New Orleans roster for the second straight year.

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Kevin Austin Jr. Year in Review

NFL experience: 2 years (with Saints)

2025 season: 8 games (1 start)

Austin’s performance at the end of 2024 earned him another look with new head coach Kellen Moore. He had a solid preseason, but for the the second straight year was part of the final cuts. Once again, Austin was quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad. It wouldn’t be long before he got a chance again on the active roster.

Austin was a yo-yo between the practice squad and active roster all season, but was a standard game-day elevation several times. He saw his first regular season action in Week 3, getting targeted one time with no catches on 22 offensive snaps. Austin wouldn’t get into a game on offense again until Week 12. By then, the New Orleans receiving corps had again been stretched woefully thin.

Austin played all of the final seven games. He wasn’t targeted and saw just 17 combined offensive snaps during the first three of those. In the final four, he had 203 snaps on offense as a regular. Over those four games, Austin had 13 receptions for 140 yards on 23 targets. Included in those was his first career touchdown, a 10-yard scoring strike from quarterback Tyler Shough. It was the go-ahead score in a Week 17 comeback win at the Tennessee Titans.

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New Orleans is expected to prioritize adding a wide receiver this offseason, likely with a high draft choice. Additionally, Ja’Lynn Polk is expected back from injury to join Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele at the position. Kevin Austin Jr. isn’t expected to be a major factor at wide receiver for the 2026. He’s also been counted out each of the last two years, but each time managed to be a contributor down the stretch.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 Year in Review: Kevin Austin Jr. stepped up amid injuries