Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. from their practice squad to their active roster, a team source told Steelers Now..
Samuel was elevated from the practice squad on Sunday and made his Steelers debut, playing in 28 snaps against the Buffalo Bills in relief of James Pierre.
Pierre had replaced Darius Slay as the team’s starting cornerback after Slay suffered a concussion. Slay, who has a healthy scratch on Sunday, was released by the Steelers to make room on the active roster for Samuel.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that the Steelers may have been forced to make a decision about adding Samuel to the active roster soon, and that was the reason they wanted to get a look at him last week.
“Really it was less about Slay and more about getting an opportunity to see Asante Samuel,” Tomlin said. “He’s a global NFL starter type who’s been on our practice squad. This time of year, as attrition sets in, you step into stadiums week in and week out, things happen, and we certainly want to have an opportunity to see him in stadium before we maybe had to make a decision on him, before someone else forced our hand.
“So, it was about that for us. Slay has missed some time due to a variety of injuries and so forth. It was about getting a look at that guy that started a lot of games in this league, and we did. We liked some of the things that we saw.”
Pierre is questionable to play this week after suffering a concussion against the Bills, so Samule could be in line to start this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
Samuel signed with the Steelers on Nov. 12 after offseason neck surgery. He spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Samuel, whose father, Asante Samuel Sr. played 11 seasons in the NFL, was originally selected 47th overall in 2021. He has recorded six interceptions along with 37 pass defenses.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Stave Off Poaching, Promote Asante Samuel to Active Roster
