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James Conner ran for two touchdowns in his first game back on the field for Pittsburgh, a 28-7 Panthers win, finally getting to live out a vision that he has used as inspiration during an offseason battle with cancer.

"It's just an awesome experience to run out of the tunnel and get back to how things used to be with all my teammates and all my brothers who had my back through my journey," Conner told Pittsburgh's radio crew after the game.

"Just getting it out of the way -- all the nerves, all the pregame jitters, the return and all that kind of stuff. Physically, I feel great. The offensive line did a great job. Me personally, I think I've got a few things to clean up; I missed a couple reads and left some yards on the field that I can't get back."

Conner's first touchdown came on the ground, like every one of his prior scores.

It's been 12 months since Conner's season-ending knee injury, nine months since his Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis and less than a month since the 21-year-old former ACC Player of the Year returned to practice -- cancer-free -- as a full participant.

After all of the trials and tribulations of the last year, Conner took the field on Saturday as Pittsburgh's starting running back. This spring, during CBS Sports' visit to Pittsburgh for a story on Conner's battle and the surging Panthers, teammates and coaches discussed Conner taking the field against Villanova with hopefulness in their eyes and voices. On Saturday it became a reality.




Conner shared this moment with those who shared his journey, taking over a corner of Heinz Field with family, friends, doctors and staff that helped him along the way. USA Today's Nicole Auerbach was on the scene to show off the group, wearing surgical masks in support of Pitt's star running back.

Conner wore a mask while working out during the spring for protection as his treatments lowered his white blood cell count and made him more prone to getting ill. Outside of that mask and the no-contact rules, it resembled any other spring for Pitt's star running back.