Ahkello

Witherspoon

Durant suffered an apparent toe injury in the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Lions, but played with a decreased workload for Week 2. He starts out the week not practicing, adding to the Rams’ injury woes. With Durant’s Week 3 also in jeopardy, the 49ers offense will have a plus matchup against a weakened Rams secondary. K Joshua Karty (groin) and TE Davis Allen (back) also did not participate, all sitting out practice with WR Cooper Kupp (ankle). The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue mentions CB Ahkello Witherspoon as an elevation candidate heading into Week 3.

Longtime 49er Witherspoon was limited to four games by hamstring woes last season. Now headed into his age-28 campaign, he’s not a bad experience-based flier, but he is a pure depth option at this stage of his career.

Witherspoon, who started seven games for the Steelers over the past two seasons, had four interceptions and 31 solo tackles over that span. Entering his seventh NFL season, Witherspoon should sign with another team as a rotational corner in the coming weeks.

Sutton picked up the hamstring injury last week against the Bills and DNP-ed all week in practice. With S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee), CB Levi Wallace (concussion), and CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) also out, the Steelers set up as a tantalizing matchup for Tom Brady, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin.

It’s a big loss for the Steelers, as Witherspoon has been an every-snap player so far this season. Witherspoon’s departure increases the burden on Cam Sutton and Levi Wallace.

The big-bodied Witherspoon, acquired by Pittsburgh via trade from Seattle in 2021, will return as a likely rotational member of the team’s secondary. He started three games and appeared in nine games for the Steelers last year, recording three interceptions and nine passes defended.

Witherspoon was acquired from the Seahawks last week but still doesn’t know the defense well enough to play. Pittsburgh is desperate for cornerback help, so this gives Stefon Diggs and the Bills’ passing game a boost.

Witherspoon, who profiled as a starter for Seattle, probably won’t have a locked-in starting role in the Pittsburgh defense. Plagued by injuries over this four-year career, the big-bodied Witherspoon, 26, will likely have a rotational role until he gets more comfortable in the Steelers system. The Steelers in 2020 had what Pro Football Focus graded as the league’s fifth-best coverage unit.

Witherspoon is recovering from “minor knee surgery” this offseason. He won’t do any on-field work but will continue his rehab at the Seahawks’ facility. Signed to a one-year, $4 million deal in March, a healthy Witherspoon should open the season opposite Tre Flowers.

Witherspoon, who is coming off a strange year in San Francisco where he was briefly a healthy scratch, slides in near the top of the Seahawks’ barren cornerback depth chart. He certainly profiles as an immediate starter. The problem for 26-year-old (next week) Witherspoon has been staying healthy, as he has been limited to 47 games in four years. At 6-foot-3, he’s a fit for what coach Pete Carroll loves to do. This could be a “prove it” signing that works out well for both sides.