The Seahawks are back from their bye, and Devon Witherspoon is coming back.

To a different role?

Witherspoon has missed five games with a bruised knee ligament. Coach Mike Macdonald said last week his team expects Witherspoon to return to practice this week. He was not on the field at the start of practice briefly open to the media Monday, six days before Seattle (5-2) plays at the Washington Commanders.

From last season into the start of this one, Witherspoon, the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, has been Macdonald’s primary nickel, slot cover man when the Seahawks go to five defensive backs. That’s been roughly two-thirds of the time. So Witherspoon’s essentially been the starter at nickel. Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe have been outside him as the wide cornerbacks.

This season, Witherspoon

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