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rising star is eyeing a return to the NFL this season. Asante Samuel Jr., a second round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft, missed a majority of last season after suffering a shoulder injury. Injured during a contract year, the Chargers let Samuel Jr. walk and did not bring him back for 2025.
Entering the regular season, Samuel Jr. still remains unsigned as he recovers from the injury and for a majority of the offseason, it was unclear when he would be healthy again. But on Aug. 26, ESPN writer Jeremy Fowler gave a major update on Samuel’s injury and provided a timeline for a return.
Samuel Jr.’s Return
Fowler tweeted on Tuesday that Samuel Jr. is waiting until he is healthy to sign with a team, revealing that while Samuel Jr.’s initial injury was a shoulder, neck surgery that he had in April is contributing to the longer recovery. But regardless, Samuel Jr. is eager to return to the field in 2025 and is eyeing a return in the second half of the season.
An update on Asante Samuel: He’s scheduled to undergo a CT scan in October to ensure successful spinal fusion,” Fowler wrote. “At that point, he will look to sign with a team for the second half of the year. Several teams have kept in touch.”
Samuel Jr. had a very promising career with the Chargers and proved to be a valuable piece to the defense. Except for a visit with the New Orleans Saints earlier this offseason, the specific teams that have kept in touch have not been revealed. But the Chargers could find themselves in the market for a defensive back at some point this season– making a reunion with Samuel quite possible.
Samuel’s Career Thus Far
A star at Florida State, where he earned Third-team All-ACC honors in 2019 and First-team All-ACC honors in 2020, Samuel was made the 47th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chargers. Spending the first four seasons of his career with the franchise, Samuel quickly became a starter, appearing and starting in 12 games as a rookie– recording 43 total tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defended.
During the 2022 season, Samuel recorded his first ever NFL interception and broke out as a core piece for the Chargers‘ defense. In 17 games (15 starts), Samuel recorded 57 total tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defended. But his most memorable game came in the Chargers 2022 Wild Card playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars— where he had three first half interceptions.
In 2023, Samuel finished his final full season with the Chargers with 63 tackles, two interceptions and 13 passes defended.
Ex-Charger Asante Samuel Jr. Get Injury Return Update