Steelers Floated as Potential Suitor for $56 Million WR Amid Calvin Austin III Injury
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers could pursue Buffalo Bills wideout Curtis Samuel on the NFL trade market.
Veteran wide receiver Curtis Samuel played in just his first game of the 2025 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. He appeared on the field for 20 offensive snaps and five special teams snaps during the Week 4 matchup versus the New Orleans Saints.
Samuel could have a much greater opportunity for more playing time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. For that reason, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested the possibility of the Steelers pursuing a trade for Samuel before the NFL trade deadline.
“The Steelers could have one more move in them, and I’d be willing to bet they’d at least have a conversation on Tyreek Hill if Miami engaged,” Fowler wrote. “Curtis Samuel is also a healthy scratch in Buffalo despite making $7.4 million this season.”
Pundits have previously linked the Steelers to Hill. However, the Miami Dolphins receiver suffered a dislocated knee on Monday Night Football in Week 4.
If the Steelers are going to acquire a wideout before the trade deadline, they will have to pursue other possibilities. Samuel is one of the more intriguing ones potential available.
According to Spotrac, Samuel has earned about $56.9 million in his nine-year NFL career.
Calvin Austin III Injury Could Gives Steelers Urgency to Add WR
Fowler made his argument about Samuel as a Steelers target last Wednesday. So, Fowler didn’t loosely connect Samuel to Pittsburgh because of Calvin Austin’s injury.
Austin suffered a shoulder ailment during Week 4 in Dublin. He left in the fourth quarter and received treatment at the hospital in Ireland.
But while Fowler didn’t name Samuel a replacement for Austin, the Steelers’ need for a receiver only increases if Austin has to miss time. According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, that’s likely to happen.
On Monday, Dulac reported Austin will miss “several weeks” because of his should injury. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported Sunday that she saw Austin’s arm in a sling after the victory against the Minnesota Vikings.
Austin has 10 of the last 11 games for the Steelers, including the playoffs, dating back to last season. In four contests this year, Austin has posted 10 catches, 139 yards and two touchdowns.
The 26-year-old averaged 15.2 yards per catch with 26 receptions and 548 receiving yards during 2024.
What WR Curtis Samuel Could Bring Steelers
Samuel never really lived up to his second-round billing. The Carolina Panthers selected him at No. 40 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
But Samuel has put together a decent NFL campaign over nine seasons. He’s eclipsed the 600-yards mark four times. In 2020, he registered a career-high 77 catches for 851 receiving yards.
He’s not likely to return to the production he had five years ago. In 2024, Samuel 31 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown in 14 games.
This season, he has one catch for nine yards in his infrequent playing time.
But with Samuel, the Steelers would be adding a proven commodity with some upside.
Behind Austin on their current depth chart, the Steelers have the inexperienced Roman Wilson and veterans Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek. None of those three inspire a lot of confidence as a starter opposite DK Metcalf.
Samuel isn’t necessarily a great option either. But he could help replace Austin until the starter returns.
Deandre Ayton Pays Tribute to Kobe Bryant on Lakers Media Day
New Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton paid homage to the late Kobe Bryant during his Media Day appearance on Monday.
As seen in the view below, Ayton rocked the Kobe Kobe V Protro “Year of the Mamba” sneakers in his first official appearance as a Laker.
Many Lakers fans widely praised Ayton’s sneaker choice, as the No. 1 overall pick made a good first impression on the large fan base.
Ayton, who signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $16.2 million contract this offseason, is expected to be the starting center on opening night against the Warriors on Oct. 22.
Excited for Opportunity
Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, didn’t live up to his potential during his previous stops in Phoenix and Portland, with the latter stint ending with a contract buyout. He reportedly had strained relationships with Monty Williams’ coaching staff on the Suns and again with Chauncey Billups’ staff on the Trail Blazers, raising questions about his ability to coexist with JJ Redick and his teammates on the Lakers.
The Bahamian admitted on Media Day that he has an image to repair and that he was excited about the opportunity to change the narrative about his career.
“This is the biggest opportunity I can say, in my career. Some people say it’s my last leg, some people say it’s my last chance. This is an opportunity I can say I’m truly not going to take for granted,” Ayton said during Media Day.
“It’s almost like a wounded animal. I feel all the tension and I know where I’m at.” “I’ve been in the gym every day. Like I say, I’m somewhere where it counts now,” Ayton continued. “And I’m happy that everybody gets to see it. I’m happy where as a player, as myself, I get a chance to prove something big on a big stage.”
Two-Man Game With Luka Doncic
Lakers star Luka Doncic has always thrived playing next to athletic centers and lob threats, a profile that fits Ayton’s skill set. As such, Lakers head coach JJ Redick is very excited about the potential of a two-man game featuring Doncic and Ayton.
“When you have Deandre Ayton in pick-and-rolls with Austin Reaves, Luka and LeBron [James], his ability to catch passes in the short roll, we’ve already seen some of that in sort of the player workouts that have been going on,” Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said, via The Athletic.
“He’s also a lob threat. So just adding that dimension, his size, is very real.”
Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Trail Blazers last season. He’s admittedly ready to have the best season of his career.
“Being around guys and great athletes like Luka and LeBron, just embracing that and feeling that aura and just being a part of it and not taking it for granted, it makes
