Steelers Floated as Potential Suitor for $56 Million WR Amid Calvin Austin III Injury
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.
“Prayers Up for the Cheetah”: Alvin Kamara’s Emotional Message to Tyreek Hill Goes Viral
Kamara, known for his leadership and powerful presence on the field, quickly showed his concern for Hill. Immediately after the injury, Kamara posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Prayers up for the cheetah #TyreekHill”
The injury has major implications not only for Hill’s season but also for the Dolphins’ roster and potential future moves. While Miami has faced challenges this season, Hill’s status could make him a key trade target, and teams like the Saints are reportedly keeping an eye on potential opportunities to acquire him.
Alvin Kamara’s message highlights the respect and sportsmanship that transcends team rivalries in the NFL. Even amid fierce competition, Kamara’s outreach to Hill shows the human side of the league and the solidarity among players when a star faces a serious setback.
For Hill, the support from Kamara, teammates, and fans provides a morale boost during his recovery. The football community has rallied behind Hill, sending prayers and well-wishes for a safe and speedy return to the field.
“It’s moments like these that remind us football is bigger than any single game,” an NFL analyst noted. “Players like Alvin Kamara showing compassion toward opponents reinforce the league’s core values of respect and sportsmanship.”
As Tyreek Hill faces the road to recovery, the support from Alvin Kamara and the wider NFL community demonstrates that even in the heat of competition, empathy and camaraderie remain at the heart of the game.
