The Rams re-signed Witherspoon to a one-year deal Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Witherspoon will remain in Los Angeles after spending the last two seasons of his career with the Rams. He's coming off a 2024 campaign in which he recorded 36 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble while playing in 15 total games between the regular season and playoffs. He's expected to remain one of the Rams' top cornerbacks in 2025.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Uneven season with Rams
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Witherspoon recorded 31 tackles and nine passes defensed (including one interception) across 13 regular-season games with the Rams in 2024.
Witherspoon signed with the Rams late in the offseason and began the campaign on the practice squad. He was activated in Week 4 and saw an inconsistent role from there-- often rotating with Cobie Durant. Witherspoon allowed quarterbacks to post a 103.1 passer rating when targeted this season, though his nine passes defensed matched the second-best mark of his career. He will be a free agent this offseason and may be forced to wait until injuries occur in training camp before finding a new home or returning to the Rams.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Suiting up versus Philly
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Witherspoon (thigh) will play in Sunday's NFC divisional-round contest versus the Eagles, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Witherspoon was questionable to play after he sustained a thigh injury during Monday's 27-9 win against the Vikings in the wild-card round. The 29-year-old played in 13 regular-season games and has been the top cornerback for the Rams most of the year. Witherspoon will have an important role in helping slow down an Eagles passing game headlined by wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Questionable for divisional round
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Witherspoon (thigh) is officially questionable for Sunday's NFC divisional-round contest against the Eagles, but he's expected to be able to suit up, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Witherspoon suffered a thigh injury in Monday's wild-card win against the Vikings and missed most of the second half of the contest. He was deemed DNP at practice both Wednesday and Thursday but was able to participate in a limited fashion Friday. Rams head coach Sean McVay said Friday that he expects all four Los Angeles players heading into the weekend deemed questionable, including Witherspoon, to suit up Sunday.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Sits out of Thursday's practice
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Witherspoon (thigh) did not participate in Thursday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Despite opening the week with consecutive DNPs, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Thursday that he expects Witherspoon to play in Sunday's NFC divisional-round game against the Eagles, per Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register. Witherspoon suffered a thigh injury in the third quarter of Monday's NFC wild-card win over the Vikings.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Game-winning pick vs. Arizona
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Witherspoon tallied six tackles (five solo) and two pass defenses (including an interception) during the Rams' 13-9 win over the Cardinals on Saturday.
Witherspoon played a season-high 73 snaps on defense Saturday. He made the biggest play of the game late in the fourth quarter, when he made a diving catch for the game-sealing interception on a pass from Kyler Murray to the end zone that bounced off the helmet of Trey McBride. It was Witherspoon's first interception of the 2024 campaign and the 12th of his eight-year NFL career. The 2017 third-round pick is up to 29 tackles (23 solo) and eight pass defenses (including one interception) across 12 regular-season games.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Called up from practice squad
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The Rams elevated Witherspoon from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
Witherspoon will be elevated for a second straight week, and he will provide depth for the Rams' secondary against the Packers on Sunday. In Week 4 against the Bears, he played seven snaps on defense and registered one solo tackle.
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Ahkello Witherspoon: Officially signs
Rotowire
Witherspoon signed with the Rams' practice squad Wednesday.
Witherspoon's return to LA won't include an immediate spot on their 53-man roster. Considering he remained a free agent throughout training camp, the Colorado product will likely need some time to prove he's ready to compete on Sundays. However, once he does so, he'll likely have the opportunity to move to the active roster and bolster the Rams' depth in the secondary.
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Ahkello Witherspoon: Return to LA expected
Rotowire
Witherspoon is slated to sign with the Rams on Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
Witherspoon had a career year in 2023 yet remained unsigned throughout the offseason. It now appears though that the Colorado product will ultimately end up back with the Rams, where he spent last season after stops in San Francisco and Pittsburgh. Although it's not clear how long it may take him to get into game shape, he should bolster the team's depth in the secondary, as Cobie Durant is dealing with a toe injury and Darious Williams is on IR due to a hamstring injury.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Productive in Sunday's win
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Witherspoon logged seven total tackles (four solo), including one tackle for loss while also deflecting a pass in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Giants.
Witherspoon was tied for Los Angeles' third-leading tackler in Week 17, posting the most total stops he has had in a game all season. The veteran cornerback has been a staple on the Rams' defense in his first season with the team, recording 47 total tackles, 14 pass deflections and three interceptions in 16 appearances. Expect Witherspoon to continue his productive run in Los Angeles' secondary during the team's divisional matchup with the 49ers in Week 18.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Expects to play vs. Saints
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Coach Sean McVay said Monday that he expects Witherspoon (groin) to play Thursday versus the Saints, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Witherspoon sustained a groin injury during Sunday's game versus the Commanders, but it doesn't look like it will force him to miss extended time. He's been one of the Rams' most reliable corners so far this season, so if he suits up, Witherspoon figures to draw a healthy dose of Chris Olave on Thursday.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Sustains groin injury
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Witherspoon sustained a groin injury during Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Witherspoon went down in the second half of Sunday's matchup and was deemed questionable to return, but he was unavailable down the stretch. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to return to action for Thursday's game against New Orleans.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Returns versus Philly
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Witherspoon (general soreness) returned to Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Witherspoon temporarily exited the game while dealing with a cramping issue. However, it appears he was able to quickly overcome this issue, as he is back on the field for the fourth quarter. Expect Witherspoon to reprise his role as the Rams' top nickel cornerback for the remainder of the contest.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Records interception
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Witherspoon played all 77 defensive snaps and intercepted a pass in the Rams' 19-16 loss to the Bengals on Monday.
The cornerback also helped limit Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow to a 26-of-49 night through the air for 259 yards. Witherspoon signed with the Rams in June and has started all three games so far.
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Rams' Ahkello Witherspoon: Participating in practice
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Witherspoon, who dealt with a hamstring injury during the offseason, is taking part in training camp practices, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Witherspoon signed with the Rams in June after being cut by the Steelers in May. He played in just four games last season but managed to post 20 tackles, two pass deflections and an interception. The 2017 third-round pick will be competing for a depth role in the Los Angeles secondary, though Rodrigue noted that Witherspoon's length and size compared to the other cornerbacks was noticeable.
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Ahkello Witherspoon: Will be cut by Pittsburgh
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The Steelers informed Witherspoon (hamstring) on Wednesday that he will be released, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Witherspoon appeared in four games with Pittsburgh in 2022, recording 20 tackles, two pass deflections and an interception prior to missing the final nine contests of the season with a hamstring injury. The 28-year-old will now look for another opportunity elsewhere, but his days as a starting option in the secondary are likely behind him.
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Steelers' Ahkello Witherspoon: Set to miss another game
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Witherspoon (hamstring) has been ruled out of Monday's contest against Indianapolis, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Witherspoon will miss his third straight game after aggravating his lingering hamstring issue in Week 8 against the Eagles. The cornerback wasn't able to practice at all this week, so he never really had a chance of suiting up for Monday Night Football. In Witherspoon's absence, Levi Wallace will likely again get the start.
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Steelers' Ahkello Witherspoon: Out again
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Witherspoon (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Witherspoon is slated to miss a second straight contest due to a lingering hamstring injury that's cost him a total of six games this season. Levi Wallace will likely continue operating as the starting cornerback opposite Cameron Sutton while Arthur Maulet sees work in nickel and dime packages.
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Steelers' Ahkello Witherspoon: Still not practicing
Rotowire
Witherspoon (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Witherspoon was ruled out for Week 10 due to a lingering hamstring injury and remains sidelined to start Week 11 prep. He'll have two more opportunities to practice before the team needs to make a decision on his status for Sunday's matchup against the Bengals.
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Steelers' Ahkello Witherspoon: Full participant Wednesday
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Witherspoon (hamstring) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Witherspoon has been sidelined since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury, but he appears close to returning to game action. However, he did register a full practice last week too before being ruled out, so the veteran defensive back will likely have to log full participation throughout Week 8 prep if he's going to be cleared for Sunday's matchup against the Eagles.
