The Pittsburgh Steelers are a bit banged up in the secondary early in the week ahead of the matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium in Week 13, with Joey Porter Jr. dealing with a hip injury.
That could create some challenges for Pittsburgh from a coverage perspective against the reigning NFL MVP in Josh Allen. But they could have an answer on the practice squad in veteran Asante Samuel Jr.
This could be the week the veteran is elevated to the active/inactive roster to give the Steelers a boost. While head coach Mike Tomlin said it was too early in the week to speculate one way or another regarding Samuel, he didn’t rule it out, either.
“We’re always open to our practice squad guys elevating, particularly those with the resume like Samuel’s,” Tomlin said, according to video via the Steelers’ YouTube page. “And so, he’s only been here a short period of time. He’s been working his tail off to not only get in football conditioning, but learn what to do.
“And it’s been a good endeavor thus far, but it’s too early in the week for me to speculate in that regard.”
It’s been two weeks since the Steelers signed Samuel as a free agent to the practice squad, bringing in an experienced secondary piece to help boost a position of need. Though Samuel hadn’t played football since Week 4 of the 2024 season and underwent spinal fusion surgery in April, it was an easy choice to make for the Steelers.
Since adding him, they’ve preached patience, knowing it was going to take a bit for Samuel to not only get up to speed within the scheme, but to also get himself into football shape after his time off.
Steelers longtime reporter Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette stated as much Monday during a radio hit on 102.5 WDVE.
“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 Monday on 102.5 WDVE. “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.”
That makes all the sense in the world. While the Steelers might need some help in the secondary and are now banged up again, there is no rushing with Samuel. He needed the time to get into the playbook and to get his body ready for the rigors of the game.
Is that time now here for him to get on the field? That remains to be seen. He could be a significant boost to the Steelers defense if he does get elevated against the Bills. He’s putting in the work behind the scenes to get ready, and that opportunity could be coming.
Hopefully, he seizes upon that chance if it arrives this week against Buffalo.
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