Samuels was released by Arizona on Tuesday.
This move comes immediately after the Cardinals officially announced the signing of running back Darrel Williams. Samuels signed a reserve/future contract with Arizona in January after playing just 16 offensive snaps over three games with the Texans in 2021. His five carries for nine rushing yards last season were also both career lows for the fifth-year running back.
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Cardinals' Jaylen Samuels: Joining Cardinals for 2022
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The Cardinals signed Samuels to a reserve/future contract Wednesday.
The running back finished the 2021 campaign with the Texans after being released by the Steelers in late October, but he will now be joining the Cardinals for the 2022 season. Samuels appeared in three games with the Texans this season, rushing the ball five times for nine yards while reeling in three catches for 14 yards.
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Jaylen Samuels: On practice squad once again
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Samuels reverted to the Texans' practice squad Monday.
Samuels touched the ball on six of the nine offensive snaps he played Week 17 against the 49ers, rushing three times for seven yards and recording three receptions for 14 yards. He also played nine snaps on special teams.
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Texans' Jaylen Samuels: Elevated for Week 17
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Samuels was elevated to the Texans' active roster from the practice squad Saturday for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston report.
Samuels will join the gameday roster for the second straight week after playing one snap on offense and six snaps on special teams Week 16. He'll likely fill a similar role versus San Francisco.
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Jaylen Samuels: Reverts back to practice squad
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Samuels reverted to the Texans' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction report.
Samuels saw one snap on offense and six snaps on special teams during Sunday's 41-29 win over the Chargers. He technically registered one kick return on a pooch kick by Los Angeles kicker Dustin Hopkins, but Samuels opted to give himself up after catching the kick.
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Texans' Jaylen Samuels: Plays one offensive snap in win
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Samuels appeared on offense for one play and on special teams for six during Sunday's 41-29 win over the Chargers.
Samuels was a practice-squad call-up for Sunday's game but did not see significant action. He technically had one kick return on a pooch kick by Los Angeles kicker Dustin Hopkins that Samuels chose not to return.
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Texans' Jaylen Samuels: Bumped up from practice squad
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Samuels was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.
Samuels' move to the active roster may be a bad sign for David Johnson's (quadriceps) availability Sunday against the Chargers. Samuels, the former Steeler, has appeared in one game for the Texans this season, in Week 13 against the Colts, where he played seven snaps on offense. Samuels did receive two carries and earned two yards. He'll likely be looking to provide depth at running back if Johnson sits this one out.
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Jaylen Samuels: Clears COVID-19 protocols
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Samuels (undisclosed) was activated from the Texans' practice squad COVID-19 list Thursday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN reports.
Samuels reverts to Houston's practice squad now that he has cleared COVID-19 protocols. It's possible the team will elevate him before Sunday's game against the Chargers, as David Johnson has been unable to practice due to a quadriceps injury, leaving only Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman as the healthy running backs on the roster.
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Jaylen Samuels: Placed on COVID-19 list
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Samuels (undisclosed) was placed on the Texans' practice squad COVID-19 list Saturday.
Samuels is fresh off his Texans debut in Week 13 against the Colts. He played seven snaps and had two carries for two yards and a target he couldn't haul in. He was reverted back to the practice squad Dec. 6 and will now try to clear COVID protocols as he looks to earn another shot with the active roster.
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Texans' Jaylen Samuels: Makes Texans debut
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Samuels had two carries for two yards and did not catch his lone target in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Colts.
Samuels, who was called up from the practice squad to provide insurance with David Johnson (illness) inactive, played eight snaps in his debut for the Texans. He logged in as the third back behind Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman. While the Texans have started to integrate young talent at other positions, they've held steadfast with established veterans at running back. Burkhead and Johnson remain atop the depth chart, but Houston head coach David Culley may eventually turn to guys like Samuels and Freeman as the franchise's focus pivots toward the 2022 roster.
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Texans' Jaylen Samuels: Called up from practice squad
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Samuels was elevated from the practice squad Saturday, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Samuels was signed to the Texans' practice squad in late October, though he has yet to be active in 2021. He should serve as insurance for David Johnson (illness) on Sunday against the Colts, and he could work behind Rex Burkhead if Johnson is unable to suit up.
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Jaylen Samuels: Released from practice squad
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The Steelers released Samuels from their practice squad Wednesday.
The Steelers activated Anthony McFarland off injured reserve Wednesday, which may have made Samuels expendable. The 2018 fifth-round pick appeared in 14 games for Pittsburgh last year, but he tallied just 18 touches for 74 yards. The 25-year-old running back will likely look to latch onto another practice squad for the rest of the 2021 campaign.
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Jaylen Samuels: Joins Steelers' practice squad
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Samuels was added to the Steelers' practice squad Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Samuels failed to secure a depth role on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster, but he should be available to step in as a backup if the team's running backs deal with injuries. The 2018 fifth-rounder appeared in 14 games for the Steelers last year but tallied just nine carries for 28 yards while hauling in nine of his 14 targets for 46 yards.
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Jaylen Samuels: Fails to make roster
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Samuels was cut by the Steelers on Tuesday, Ed Bouchette of The Athletic reports.
Samuels was unable to retain a spot on the initial 53-man roster with Benny Snell, Kalen Ballage and Anthony McFarland (undisclosed) all around to handle reserve roles behind Najee Harris. The third-down specialist could draw interest from other teams, especially given that he can also contribute on special teams.
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Steelers' Jaylen Samuels: Effective as receiver
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Samuels carried the ball three times for eight yards in Friday's preseason game against the Panthers. He added two receptions on two targets for 20 yards.
Samuels didn't do much as a rusher after picking up eight yards on his first carry. However, he did appear more dynamic as a receiver out of the backfield by managing gains of 13 and seven yards. Samuels didn't enter the game until Joshua Dobbs was under center in the third quarter. With both Benny Snell and Kalen Ballage largely working ahead of him, Samuels may be at risk of losing out on a roster spot.
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Steelers' Jaylen Samuels: Productive against Eagles
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Samuels recorded 10 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown, and he hauled his lone target for 17 yards in Thursday's 24-16 preseason win over the Eagles.
Samuels led the Steelers' running backs by playing 27 percent of the team's offensive snaps in Thursday's exhibition game, and he recorded double-digit touches for a second straight week. While he had an inefficient 1.8 yards per carry in the Hall of Fame Game against the Cowboys, he was much more effective with 4.5 yards per carry Thursday. The 2018 fifth-rounder remains in a competition for a backup role with Kalen Ballage (lower body), Anthony McFarland and Benny Snell (undisclosed).
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Steelers' Jaylen Samuels: Logs 11 carries in preseason opener
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Samuels rushed 11 times for 20 yards and hauled in his lone target for five yards in the Steelers' 16-3 preseason win over the Cowboys in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game.
Samuels is competing for the primary backup role behind Najee Harris ahead of the regular season, and he led the team's backfield in touches during the preseason opener. However, his 1.8 yards per carry ranked last among the team's running backs. Harris will command the majority of the work this season, and Samuels will have to show better efficiency later in the preseason if he hopes to differentiate himself from Kalen Ballage, Anthony McFarland and Benny Snell.
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Steelers' Jaylen Samuels: Gets more competition in offseason
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Samuels will have to compete for touches once again this season after the Steelers selected Najee Harris with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.
After James Conner signed with the Cardinals during the offseason, the Steelers signed Kalen Ballage at the end of March before selecting Harris with their first pick in the draft. Samuels was mainly limited to special-teams work in 2021, and he could have to compete for a roster spot during training camp and the preseason now that the team's depth chart at running back is even more crowded. Samuels rushed nine times for 28 yards while hauling in nine passes for 46 yards in 2020.
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Steelers' Jaylen Samuels: Limited to special-teams work
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Samuels was on the field for only 10 snaps on special teams during Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Browns.
Even as the Steelers relied heavily on their depth players in Sunday's Week 17 matchup, Samuels wasn't on the field for any offensive snaps against the Browns. The 24-year-old was far less involved in the Steelers' offensive attack this year than he had been in past seasons. He rushed nine times for 28 yards while hauling in nine of his 14 targets for 46 yards. He could move up the depth chart in 2021 if James Conner doesn't return to the team during the offseason, but he should continue to see a minimal role in the playoffs and will likely serve in a depth role once again next year.
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Steelers' Jaylen Samuels: Plays minimal role in loss
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Samuels recorded one carry for four yards while hauling in his lone target for 12 yards in Monday's 27-17 loss to the Bengals.
Samuels played a considerable role for the Steelers over the past two weeks and figured to be in line for increased work against Cincinnati with James Conner (quadriceps) sidelined. However, he was only on the field for seven offensive snaps after playing 27 offensive snaps in each of the last two weeks. The 24-year-old has now brought in seven of his nine targets over the past three weeks, but he has only recorded 74 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches this season.
