The five-week suspension that took effect before his NFL career even began is now over, and Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor returned to practice Wednesday for the first time this regular season.

The troubled former Ohio State quarterback was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the supplemental draft on Aug. 22. Pryor was immediately hit with a five-game suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for trying to manipulate the NFL draft process.

But many felt the suspension had more to do with Pryor’s transgressions while a student-athlete at Ohio State. Had Pryor remained in school, he would have had to serve at least a five-game suspension for a tattoos-for-memorabilia scandal he was involved in.

But those difficulties are all past Pryor, and his focus is now on proving that he can be an effective NFL quarterback.

“I think he’s just excited to be back on the practice field,” Raiders starting quarterback Jason Campbell told reporters following Wednesday’s practice. “Having to sit out for five weeks and, obviously, not receive a paycheck for five weeks, I know kind of stings, too. But I think he’s obviously excited about being out there with his teammates and getting to learn football and getting to learn our offense and grow together.”

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

(Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)