During the summer of his rookie season, especially once they got into the preseason, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was already publicly acknowledging his interest in finding ways to get rookie fifth-round running back Jaylen Samuels involved in the offense. Though it didnufffdt materialize, he suggested prior to the third preseason game that he might get some work with the first-team offense while they were in the game.
Samuels opened the year as the teamufffds number three running back behind James Connerufffdthe surprise starter after LeufffdVeon Bell didnufffdt show upufffdand veteran Stevan Ridley, but by around the middle of the season, he had pass Ridley on the depth chart.