Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Samuels is making the most of his second chance in football in the CFL.
Samuels signed with the Ottawa Redblacks and in their preseason game on Saturday, Samuels showcased what he could do.
He had two carries for 26 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches for 13 yards in two drives. Samuels’ first carry of the day was a 24-yard touchdown run. As he tries to carve out a role and playing time, that will go a long way to landing that.
Samuels tried his luck in the UFL last year with the San Antonio Brahmas and Houston Roughnecks, but it never worked out.
Samuels has not been in the NFL since 2022, when he was on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. The Steelers drafted Samuels out of NC State in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
When arriving in Pittsburgh, he was billed as a do-it-all weapon but quickly settled in at running back. He spent four seasons with the team from 2018 to 2021 before being released and joining the Houston Texans.
In his career, Samuels has accumulated 468 rushing yards and 564 receiving yards, showcasing his versatility as a key weapon for the team. Samuels has five career touchdowns.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is just 28 years old and should have plenty of good years left in the tank if he stays with Ottawa.