After bursting into undeniable relevance with a record-breaking first career start in Kansas City--10 catches, 250 yards, 2 touchdowns--Miles Austin stands on the cusp of yet another milestone, along with quarterback Tony Romo.
If Austin can post 72 yards receiving against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, he will be the third Cowboys receiver with 1,000 yards receiving in a season since 2000. Dallas's pass-catchers spent the first half of the decade mired in mediocrity--it wasn't until Terry Glenn came along in 2005 that the team had a 1,000 yard receiver in the new millennium.
Glenn did it again in 2006. Terrell Owens did it in each of his three seasons in the Big D, from 2006 to 2008. Now, a man who spent training camp in relative anonymity will almost certainly join the former Pro Bowlers.
If Austin hits the mark on Sunday, he and Tony Romo will be just the second undrafted quarterback-receiver combination to go for 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards receiving. The first was Cowboys backup Jon Kitna, and and receiver Mike Furrey, who pulled off the feat in Detroit in 2006.
Of course, Romo went undrafted out of Eastern Illinois, Austin out of Monmouth.
Romo has already done his part, with 3,325 yards this season. Austin, who began the year as the Cowboys' third option at receiver, is averaging just over 77 yards per game.
