The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced their fair share of adversity during the 2025 season when it comes to the injury bug. The injuries have mostly occurred on the defensive side of the ball, and the secondary in particular has been pretty beat up. Questionable depth and injury statuses caused the Steelers to go out and sign free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the team's practice squad earlier in the season, and after two weeks with the team, the cornerback has yet to be activated for a game. This could have been expected, but fans wanted to see what the young corner had after inking his deal.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. seen taking a knee while participating in a regular-season practice with his new teammates at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Samuel had a successful start to his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the young defender has not played since the start of the 2024 season. He suffered an injury that ended his season early on, and he then had to undergo surgery during the 2025 offseason. This forced him to not sign with a team in free agency, where he was considered to be one of the more coveted defenders on the market. He was medically cleared not long ago, which is when he signed with Pittsburgh after visiting some other teams before making his decision. Team insider Gerry Dulac went on WDVE Monday morning, and he provided some clarity on the signing.
"I will tell you that when they signed him, they knew he was weeks away from playing because he hadn't played in so long and they wanted to make sure," Dulac said. "They want to make sure that he's up to some type of speed, not just what they do, but just being able to play football."
The wait for Samuel to make his debut for the Steelers is completely understandable. He has not played football in well over a year, and while he stayed in shape throughout the offseason, it still takes some time to get used to playing the sport again. He has been on the practice squad for Pittsburgh for roughly two weeks, and it is unclear how long it will take for him to get activated.
Los Angeles Chargers
Steelers' Asante Samuel Jr. during a home game while with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
Samuel was an exciting player for the Chargers, but the organization had no interest in bringing him back after his rookie deal expired. The Steelers were able to sign him for cheap before their Week 11 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Some fans expected him to be activated for that game, but that did not happen. He was not activated prior to the game against the Chicago Bears either, which leaves fans wondering when his debut with the team might happen.
Pittsburgh takes on the Buffalo Bills next, and he could very well be on the field for that game. The coaching staff will probably work him in very slowly as he is still being ingratiated into the defensive system.
Steelers Should Be In No Rush To Activate Asante Samuel Jr.
The recent emergence of cornerback James Pierre has allowed the organization to slow play the debut of Samuel. Pierre has played really well in an extended role, which allows Samuel to come along slowly before getting on the field in an actual game. However, Joey Porter Jr. went down with a hip injury in Sunday's game, and that could mean Samuel will be on the field against Buffalo if Porter is going to be limited or cannot play.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. and James Pierre celebrate after a big time turnover during the 2025 NFL season.
Samuel is a versatile in the defensive backfield as he can play in the slot or on the outside, which makes him the perfect depth piece for Pittsburgh to have on game day. As mentioned, the organization knew it would take weeks for Samuel to get up to speed, and Pierre's play has allowed that to happen. Now with some injury questions, it might be time for Samuel's debut.
What do you think about Samuel potentially making his debut against Buffalo? Let us know in the comments below!
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