The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free agent cornerback Samuel to their practice squad. This is a smart move to bolster their secondary during a stretch where they are particularly banged up. The 26-year-old player, who previously played for the Los Angeles Chargers, is regarded for his elite ball skills and exceptional instincts in coverage.
That being said, Samuel’s 2022 season was ended prematurely due to injury. He appeared in just four games in 2023—the fewest appearances of his professional career. His season ended abruptly just days before the Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos. He was subsequently put on injured reserve due to a hurt shoulder. Sheldon called this injury a bilateral stinger, it hurt both shoulders, which led to him not being able to help his team in such an impactful way.
His son Samuel has fought a serious medical condition since birth. An unfortunate constant over his career that has fueled his inability to produce in the past few seasons. Despite these challenges, he has managed to accumulate 176 tackles and six interceptions over 50 career games, including 47 starts. When healthy, his playmaking talent jumps off the screen. With the Chargers already entering the 2024 season without a clear plan for a new home, he provides the biggest natural asset on that front.
Yet still, Samuel’s tackling is a pitfall that causes coaches and analysts to bite their nails. His lack of a tackling technique is his only big flaw. He often takes bad angles on ball carriers, resulting in more yards after the catch than you’d expect. This is something that will definitely need to be focused on with him as he makes the transition over to the Steelers’ system.
The Steelers have a lot of injuries hurting their secondary. This has led to an immediate need for depth at the cornerback position. By adding Samuel to the roster, they’re addressing this gap. This decision provides him an opportunity to get back on track and reestablish himself again.
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