The San Francisco 49ers brought in Asante Samuel Jr. for a workout on Monday, evaluating the veteran cornerback as he works his way back into the NFL after undergoing spinal fusion surgery during the offseason. Samuel had visited several teams in recent weeks, and on Tuesday, he found a new home.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, it wasn't in Santa Clara. According to multiple reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing the free-agent defensive back to their practice squad.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that he didn't have a chance to meet with Samuel personally or participate in the workout.
"I haven't got a chance to talk to anyone about it yet, but I'm sure just to check him out, see where he's at," Shanahan said. "We know he's been a hell of a player, so it's probably just to see where he's at right now."
Samuel, viewed by many analysts as one of the top free agents available, could have been a valuable addition to a 49ers defense that has been hit hard by injuries this season. Still, it's debatable whether cornerback depth is among San Francisco's most urgent needs. That would likely be the pass rush.
Although, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns against the 49ers on Sunday. Among San Francisco's defensive backs, only Chase Lucas (66.5) holds a Pro Football Focus coverage grade higher than 58.8 (Deommodore Lenoir).
The Rams defeated the 49ers 42-26 at Levi's Stadium, dropping San Francisco's record to 6-4. The team will look to regroup and bounce back this weekend when they face the Arizona Cardinals on the road.
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