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Jeremy Fowler
Asante Samuel Jr., a cornerback who is now a free agent, has received medical clearance to resume football activities following spinal fusion surgery conducted in April. He is reportedly scheduling visits with interested teams as early as this week.
Sources indicate Samuel’s representatives are in contact with a number of NFL franchises, some of whom may be seeking to bolster their cornerback depth prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline.
Ahead of free agency in March, ESPN listed Samuel as the No. 14 overall free agent. Several team executives regarded him as the top cornerback available. However, an injury placed him on injured reserve during the 2024 season, limiting him to just four game appearances. Samuel characterized the injury at the end of that season as involving stingers in both shoulders, along with a pre-existing condition since birth. The necessity for surgical intervention became apparent during the spring.
Dr. David Okonkwo, who serves as a neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers, performed the surgical procedure.
Recent medical scans of Samuel have been reviewed by both Dr. Okonkwo and Dr. Nicholas Theodore, who is recognized for his experience in spinal trauma cases.
Since being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2021 draft, Samuel has recorded 176 tackles and six interceptions over 50 career games, including 47 starts.
Contribution to this report provided by ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
