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Steelers Activate DeMarvin Leal, Place Ahkello Witherspoon on IR

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Steelers DL DeMarvin Leal

The Steelers have activated DeMarvin Leal from injured reserve and have placed cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve, the team announced on Saturday.

Leal has been out for over six weeks following knee surgery for a meniscus injury. However, he has been back at practice for two weeks now, and he says he feels fully healthy. Leal was ready to play against the Falcons, and it looks like he will get his opportunity.

“I feel great,” Leal said. “Really, I think I’m back to 100 percent. I’d got back into my technique and my bag. When I’m back, I’m going to be back better than before.”

On Friday, Leal told Steelers Now that he is fully confident in his knee. There are no concerns for him with explosiveness or potential reinjury. Instead, Leal believes he can play at full strength moving forward.

“Yeah, that trust is fully there (in the knee),” Leal said. “I’m 100 percent with it from a trust standpoint. Honestly, I’m committed to myself. I’m ready to get back to it.”

Meanwhile, while DeMarvin Leal is back, Ahkello Witherspoon could potentially be out for the rest of the season. Suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns and reinjured it against the Philadelphia Eagles. Witherspoon has not played since. It appears that now Witherspoon is likely to be down for the rest of the season, potentially finishing his season with only four games played.