The Steelers’ Ryan Clark flies through the air on Sunday after leveling Patriots receiver Wes Welker, who said yesterday there is “no sense in crying or whining about it.”

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

FOXBORO — Wes Welker didn’t return to the New England Patriots’ game against Pittsburgh after absorbing a vicious hit from safety Ryan Clark, but he was back on the field yesterday with his teammates as they began preparations from Sunday’s game in Seattle.

Prior to practice, Welker talked about the hit and Clark, who had tried to reach out and apologize to the receiver after the game.

“It was a football play. The ball got tipped and you know, he came in and made a good play,” Welker said of the over-the-middle pass from Matt Cassel that the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu got a hand on. “Like any other hit, you just take it in stride and make sure you’re getting ready for the next opportunity you have to get back out there.”

Clark received a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the play, though NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira told the Boston Herald this week that Clark would not be fined.

There has been much debate among fans and pundits about whether Clark’s hit was dirty — Welker never saw him coming as he lowered his shoulder and launched himself into the wideout — but Welker seems to harbor no ill will.

“I don’t really expect him to [apologize]. It’s a football play; it is what it is,” Welker said. “No sense in crying or whining about it. You just have to keep on moving on and get ready for the next week.”

smanza@projo.com