Steelers' Ahkello Witherspoon resumes practicing after being designated to return from IR list

A chance to stay alive in the playoff race could be at stake, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are heading on the road to face their bitter AFC North rival.

It matters little to cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. They could be playing the Atlanta Falcons again for all he is concerned.

“All that stuff sounds good, but it’s just another football game,” Witherspoon said Wednesday. “It’s been so long, just to play another football game is everything to me.”

One of the Steelers starting cornerbacks entering the season, Witherspoon has played only four games — and just one since Week 3. After missing two chunks of games because of a hamstring injury, Witherspoon was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday and resumed practicing with his teammates.

“I’ve been excited and antsy all week knowing I have an opportunity to put on a helmet and cleats and see some football happen in front of me,” Witherspoon said. “I’m tired of riding a bike and getting on the elliptical.”

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While Witherspoon returned to practice, cornerback Cameron Sutton sat out with a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Diontae Johnson was limited with a toe injury.

A handful of players didn’t practice for personal reasons, as they attended the funeral of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris. Those players included Cameron Heyward, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris, Terrell Edmunds and Larry Ogunjobi.

After missing four games because of his balky hamstring, Witherspoon returned in Week 8 at Philadelphia only to be benched at halftime after allowing a couple of long touchdown passes to A.J. Brown in a 35-13 loss.

The injury was aggravated during the bye week and, until Wednesday, Witherspoon hadn’t practiced since. It has added up to a lost season for the veteran corner, who has one year remaining on his contract.

“All the salvaging has been done,” he said. “Just the mental fortitude that it has taken to get where I’m at, all that stuff is cliché. I’m just excited to be healthy and playing football. That’s what I’ve been working toward every day. Just having the opportunity to get back out there and fly around with my brothers is everything to me.”