WATCH: Curtis Samuel nabs first touchdown for Washington Commanders
Former Ohio State Buckeyes star Curtis Samuel grabbed the first touchdown of the 2022 season and first with the Washington Commanders on Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Marching down the field with new Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz, Samuel made an inside move pre-snap before moving back outside for a 3-yard touchdown grab. The snag gave Washington their first points of the game as the Jags led 3-0 to start out.
The touchdown was also the first for Carson Wentz since his offseason move from the Indianapolis Colts. The former Eagles first-round pick went 4-for-5 on the drive, taking the Commanders 65 yards to the endzone.
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Last season, Samuel spent most of the year sidelined for the Washington Football Team as he tended to a nagging groin issue. They tried to work him back slowly, but the injury continued to linger. He finished the year with six catches for 27 yards.
Samuel starts year strong for Washington
Samuel played his college ball at Ohio State for former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. With the Buckeyes, he was used in both the run and pass game.
His final year at Ohio State was his most productive, both rushing and receiving. He had 97 rushes for 771 yards, eight touchdowns and averaged 7.9 yards per rush. Through the air, he has 74 catches for 865 yards, seven touchdowns, with an average of 11.7 yards per catch. He went on to finish his Ohio State career with 2,500-plus all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns.
Samuel was taken by the Carolina Panthers with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-0, multi-faceted player, Samuel was used primarily as a receiver by the Carolina Panthers. When he was drafted by the Panthers, they already had two running backs featured in their backfield in Jonathan Stewart and Christian McCaffrey.
While he was often targeted on the field, he did not have very many yards receiving to show for it. His best year with the Panthers was his final in 2020 with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. Samuel caught 77 balls for 851 yards and three receiving touchdowns.