The Falcons signed Sample (knee) on Monday, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site report.
Sample was waived by the 49ers on Wednesday with a knee issue. The signing means the linebacker passed his physical and should be good to go for the preseason. Sample should slot in as a third-string option at outside linebacker, right on the edge of a potential 53-man roster spot.
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Cameron Sample: Let go due to injury
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The 49ers waived Sample (knee), per the NFL's transaction log.
Sample's knee injury seems to be a more significant issue, as the defensive end was promptly waived following full evaluation. With the 49ers' roster being chock-full of injured players, any roster transaction allows the team to sign fresh prospects who could fill the void. Sample will go on waivers, and once he likely clears, he will be a free agent.
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49ers' Cameron Sample: Joining 49ers defense
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Sample has agreed to a one-year deal with the 49ers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Sample, who the Bengals took in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft, recorded 17 tackles and two sacks in 14 regular-season games (including two starts) for Cincinnati in 2025. With San Francisco, the Tulane product will bolster his new team's defensive line depth, though Sample will remain off the IDP radar unless he sees an uptick in playing time in his new locale.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Inactive for Week 13
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Sample (oblique) is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Ravens.
Sample was held out of the Bengals' Week 12 loss to the Patriots and will now miss a second consecutive game. The depth defensive end will have a 10-day turnaround to get healthy ahead of the Week 14 matchup with the Bills.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Questionable to face Ravens
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Sample (oblique) is listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's game against the Ravens.
Sample was held out of the Bengals' Week 12 loss to the Patriots but was able to practice in limited fashion throughout the week. He has a chance to return for Thursday's primetime contest, though his status will be officially determined shortly before kickoff.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Ruled out for Week 12
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Sample (oblique) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Sample has played 22 percent of the defensive snaps across nine games this season, producing nine tackles (five solo) and a pair of QB hits. Isaiah Foskey could see elevated snaps as a backup off the edge for the Bengals.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Exits with oblique injury
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Sample (oblique) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Sample is having his right oblique evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return to Sunday's game. With Trey Hendrickson (hip) inactive, Myles Murphy, Isaiah Foskey and Cedric Johnson are candidates to see a slight uptick in defensive snaps for as long as Sample is out of the game.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Logs full practice
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Sample (knee) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Sample missed Cincinnati's Week 8 contest with a knee injury, though he appears ready to return in Week 9 against the Bears. He should return to a rotational role along the defensive line.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Inactive for Week 8
Rotowire
Sample (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Sample has played 110 rotational defensive end snaps this season, contributing in all seven games for the team. The 26-year-old will miss his first game of the season with a knee injury, potentially giving a chance to rookie Shemar Stewart to see the field more as he works his way back from an ankle injury.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Back from Achilles tear
Rotowire
Sample (Achilles) notched one solo tackle in Thursday's 34-27 preseason loss to the Eagles.
Sample didn't suit up in the 2024 regular season after tearing his left Achilles that preseason, but he's back in action for the preseason in 2025. The 2021 fourth-round draft pick is competing for a depth role as a pass rusher.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Shifts to IR
Rotowire
The Bengals placed Sample (Achilles) on injured reserve Wednesday.
This move comes as no surprise, as Sample tore his Achilles during one of the Bengals' practices last week. The Tulane product recorded 29 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and defended one pass across 17 regular-season games in 2023. Expect second-year defensive end Myles Murphy to see more work as a rotational edge rusher with Sample missing all of 2024.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Carted off field
Rotowire
Sample (knee) was carted off the field during practice Thursday, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sample was seen using a scooter with his left knee on the pad in the locker room after practice. It's not clear what injury he may have suffered or the severity, but the use of a scooter would indicate it's likely not a day-to-day injury.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Back to full health
Rotowire
Sample (groin) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Sample has resumed practicing in full after having been sidelined by a groin injury since Bengals' divisional-round victory over the Titans. Now, the rotational defensive end can be considered on track for Super Bowl LVI versus the Rams.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Limited in practice
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Sample (groin) was a limited participant in practice Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
This is the first time Sample has practiced since injuring his groin late in the Bengals' divisional-round victory over the Titans two weeks ago. The defensive end played on at least 35 percent of Cincinnati's defensive snaps over the first two rounds of the playoffs and registered one tackle in the divisional-round. Sample's participation ten days out from the Super Bowl is an encouraging sign for his potential availability in the big game.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Not available Sunday
Rotowire
Sample (groin) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Chiefs, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
As expected, Sample will be sidelined for the AFC Championship Game after not being able to practice all week. In Sample's absence, Wyatt Ray and Khalid Kareem are candidates for increased snaps.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: No limitations Tuesday
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Sample (hamstring) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice session, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Sample missed the last two games with a hamstring injury but appears to be fully healthy ahead of the playoffs. The 22-year-old should reclaim his depth role in Saturday's wild-card matchup against Las Vegas.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Sitting out Sunday
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Sample (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns, Marisa Contipelli of the Bengals' official site reports.
Sample was considered questionable with the knee injury and will miss his first game of the season. Khalid Kareem and Wyatt Ray could be more involved in the defensive line rotation Sunday in his absence.
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Bengals' Cameron Sample: Exits with shoulder injury
Rotowire
Sample exited Friday's preseason game against Washington with a right shoulder injury.
Although Sample was ruled out for the remainder of Friday's contest shortly after he left the game, coach Zac Taylor said after the game that the rookie's injury is considered minor, Marisa Contipelli of the Bengals' official site reports. He racked up four tackles (two solo) prior to his departure.
