Samuel Womack didn't expect to get waived.
The cornerback, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, appeared in 23 games with the 49ers across the first two seasons of his NFL career. He recorded 18 tackles and one tackle-for-loss and saw action in three postseason games, while also contributing on special teams with eight special teams stops to his name. But on Aug. 27, he was on the waiver wires.
"I didn't really expect to get waived from the Niners, especially after having good OTAs and preseason and camp," Womack said Monday. "But you, know, the business is the business."
Womack appeared in all three of San Francisco's preseason games, compiling seven solo tackles. On Aug. 28, five days after the 49ers preseason finale, the Colts selected him off the waiver wires and Womack started preparing to move halfway across the country.
He's doing so with a new mindset and determination to show what he's capable of.
"I'm gonna bring the juice," Womack said. "I'm going to bring the culture, the winning culture, from the Niners here. I'm gonna bring the energy in the locker room and I'm gonna talk on the field."
Womack comes into a talented Colts cornerback room, with Kenny Moore II setting the tone for the rest of the group. Womack, entering his third year in the NFL, is tied for the second-most experienced player in the room with Dallis Flowers. Moore, going into his eighth season, is the veteran of the group.
That means Womack knows exactly who Moore is, and has for a while.
"Him, K'Waun Williams, I used to watch both of them a lot when I was in college," Womack said. "They was probably like the best two nickels. And then you had Desmond King that was playing nickel for the Chargers, he was the top nickel. I watched them three a lot."
"The thing that stood out to me about Kenny is just him being at the ball, being around the ball, making plays on the ball," Womack added.
Womack said he and Moore have similar styles of play in that way, and despite their size – Womack is 5-foot-10 and Moore is 5-foot-9 – they play aggressively every snap.
Womack has even more motivation to play all-out whenever possible with the Colts; while his departure from the 49ers was emotional, he quickly switched gears and became even more resolved to show what he can do.
"Wherever I land, I'm never gonna get cut again," Womack said. "I'm gonna come in and I'm gonna work hard, like I've been working, and I'm gonna show the league why I am who I am."
