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The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ defense has been in obvious need of help all season long, and after getting routed by the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, they just made a major addition to their secondary. Ian Rapoport of NFL media has reported that the Steelers have signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to their practice squad after the former second-round pick was fully cleared for action after undergoing spinal fusion surgery during the offseason. Read more: Jets WR Garrett Wilson Sparks Controversy With Weird Injury Update Samuel spent the first four years of his career with the Chargers and never made a Pro Bowl, but he established himself as a critical member of their secondary and had a couple of very strong seasons, especially in 2023 when he racked up 63 tackles, a couple of interceptions and 13 passes defended. Last year, however, the 26-year-old played in just four games before going down with a season-ending injury. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 2: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, United States. Samuel had interest from a plethora of teams before ultimately deciding to sign with the Steelers, but with Pittsburgh having a clear need in its defensive backfield, the former second-round pick probably saw a strong opportunity for playing time on a contender. The Steelers are 5-4 and are just one game ahead of the suddenly surging Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North. The problem is they rank last in the NFL in passing defense, hence the need for Samuel. Pittsburgh is typically accustomed to boasting one of the best defenses in the league, so it’s odd seeing the Steelers struggle so much on that side of the ball. They also failed to create distance in the division while Lamar Jackson was sidelined with an injury, and now, the Ravens are hot on their tail with plenty of football left. Read more: Former Eagles Player Exposes Ugly Truth for Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown We’ll see if Samuel can provide a major boost for Pittsburgh when they ultimately decide to elevate him from the practice squad. The Steelers will face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
