PITTSBURGH (AP) —

Asante Samuel Jr. spent the last few months recovering from spinal fusion surgery by doing some distance running in hopes of being ready whenever a team called looking for help in the secondary. Advertisement

Now it's time to sprint.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed the veteran cornerback to their practice squad on Wednesday in hopes the 26-year-old can eventually give the NFL's worst pass defense a boost.

Samuel hadn't been on the field in a team situation in more than a year until he jogged out for practice shortly after his signing was announced.

“It meant the world to me," Samuel said. “Just being out there, putting on a helmet, putting on cleats, going at it, competing with other guys that’s trying to accomplish the same goal as me.”

Well, maybe not the exact sa

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