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Houston Roughnecks sign LB Christian Sam and Gabriel Sewell out

The injury bug has hit the Houston Roughnecks again. LB Gabriel Sewell was knocked out of the game last week, leading Christian Sam – the spring veteran – to sign with the team.

Christian Sam

Christian Sam is a familiar face on the spring football scene. He played with the TSL Jousters in 2021, helping lead that team to the Mega Bowl championship that year.

In 2022, Sam joins the USFL. He mainly played with the Tampa Bay Bandits, but right at the end of the season he was released – and was immediately picked up by the New Orleans Breakers. During that span, Sam totaled 54 tackles and one interception.

This led to a stint in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. Sam was the first signing from the USFL to the NFL for the 2022 offseason. He was ultimately released due to injury.

Christian took some time to recover, which is why he didn’t play in 2023. He was signed by the Arlington Renegades before the 2024 season – but was let go before camp ended. training.

He will now look to get back on track professionally with the Houston Roughnecks.

See also

What Bryan Scott's injury means for the Philadelphia StarsWhat Bryan Scott's injury means for the Philadelphia Stars

Gabriel Sewell out for the season

Former Philadelphia Stars star Gabriel Sewell is done for the year, sources tell Pro Football Newsroom. Sewell joined the Houston Roughnecks this offseason via the dispersal process.

In 2024, he made 19 tackles for the Roughnecks. He started four games and appeared in all seven games so far. Unfortunately, it was this weekend that he was injured. Sewell contributed on special teams and fell on a punt coverage play.

Gabriel finishes his UFL campaign with a 60.6 defensive rating via PFF. His strongest category was pass rush, with a seasonal grade of 77.1. We wish Gabriel a speedy recovery ahead of the 2025 season.

Final Thoughts

It’s great to see Christian Sam getting another opportunity on this platform. However, it’s disappointing that this comes at the expense of Gabriel Sewell, who has been one of the most consistent linebackers in the game since his time with the Stars.

For the Houston Roughnecks, these final three weeks will be an opportunity for GM Lionel Vital and HC Curtis Johnson to evaluate the talent they have. Houston was eliminated from the playoffs after blowing a late lead to the San Antonio Brahmas.

What do you think about Christian Sam signing with the Houston Roughnecks? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord!