Major shakeups are happening in Pittsburgh! The Steelers are making significant adjustments to their roster, and these moves could have a big impact on the team's performance. Let's dive into the details.
First, the Steelers have signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad. Samuel, who initially joined the practice squad on November 12th, was previously elevated for the Bills game. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. During his four seasons with the Chargers, he played in 50 games, starting 47 of them. Unfortunately, injuries limited his playing time in 2024 to just four games. Over his time with the Chargers, Samuel racked up six interceptions, 37 passes defended, and a fumble recovery. In college at Florida State, he played in 32 games, recording 96 tackles.
Next, the Steelers claimed receiver Adam Thielen off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. Thielen, a seasoned veteran with 12 years in the NFL, has played in 173 games, starting 133. He boasts an impressive career record of 693 receptions for 8,380 yards, averaging 12.1 yards per catch, and scoring 64 touchdowns. Thielen entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Vikings in 2013, spending his first season on their practice squad. He played nine seasons with the Vikings before moving to the Carolina Panthers for two seasons. He returned to the Vikings in 2025 via trade, appearing in 11 games with 5 starts. This season, he has 8 receptions for 69 yards. He requested his release to get more playing time in what he says will be his final season. Thielen has had three 1,000-yard seasons, two with the Vikings (2017, 2018) and one with Carolina (2023). His career-high of 14 touchdowns came in 2020, despite playing in only 15 games.
And this is the part most people miss... the Steelers waived cornerback Darius Slay. Slay signed a one-year contract as a free agent this offseason. He played in 10 games this season, starting 9. He was a healthy scratch for the Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills. Slay recorded 38 tackles this season, 28 solo, with 3 passes defended and one tackle for a loss. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He spent his first seven seasons with the Lions before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020. Slay was a First-Team All-Pro in 2017, a six-time Pro Bowler (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), and a starter for the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX championship team.
But here's where it gets controversial... This move with Slay raises questions about the team's defensive strategy.
For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is available, which means you can watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio, and more - all in one place.
What do you think about these roster moves? Do you agree with the Steelers' decisions, or do you have a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
