On Monday, it was revealed that the Washington Commanders were bringing in wide receiver Martavis Bryant for a workout. This was the second time in three months that Washington had hosted Bryant.
On Tuesday morning, the Commanders announced they had signed Bryant. To make room for him, Washington released kicker Ramiz Ahmed.
Bryant, 32, hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2018 with the Raiders. A Pittsburgh Steelers selected Bryant in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft out of Clemson, and he once looked like he was ticketed for stardom. However, multiple suspensions led him away from the NFL.
After over two years out of football, Bryant signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2021. He was placed on the suspended list for failing to report and never played for Toronto. Bryant signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League that same year.
In 2022, he signed with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks but was released before training camp. He then signed with the Fan Controlled Football League.
In 2023, Bryant was selected No. 5 overall by the Vegas Vipers in the XFL draft, where he would play in eight games, catching 14 passes for 154 yards. The Vipers released him later so Bryant could sign with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. He did not play in a game for Dallas last season and was signed to a reserve/future contract in January but released in May.
Ahmed signed with the Commanders in June after they released veteran kicker Brandon McManus. He spent the 2023 season with the Green Bay Packers, going back and forth between the main roster and the practice squad.
That leaves Washington with Riley Patterson at kicker. Both have struggled in training camp, but Patterson now has the rest of the preseason to impress Washington and earn the job.
We have made the following roster moves:
— Signed WR Martavis Bryant
— Released K Ramiz Ahmed pic.twitter.com/HKXdBG3WlR— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 13, 2024