Veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant has been back on an NFL roster and on an NFL practice field for the first time in nearly two years. After tearing his Achilles in practice with the New Orleans Saints in Nov. 2018, Bryant has been looking for his way back to the field again. He found a potential match in the Baltimore Ravens and has looked the part in his single week of practice.
Signed to the practice squad, it’s hoped the Ravens’ newest receiver will be able to make his presence felt on Sundays soon enough. But for right now, Bryant’s presence in practice has already earned rave reviews from quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“Oh man, he’s a great route runner, strong hands, he’s dialed into the playbook; he’s always asking me questions about the playbook – stuff like that,” Jackson said Wednesday. “He wants to compete. I just can’t wait until he gets out there with us on Sundays and fully practices with us.”
With Baltimore’s passing game struggling — ranked 31st in passing yards, 17th in passing touchdowns, and 25th in average net-passing-yards-per-attempt — Jackson and company could use a little boost in talent and swagger right now. While not a perfect fix for all of the Ravens’ woes, it’s hoped Bryant will be able to fill in for the big-bodied, possession-receiver role currently missing from Baltimore’s offense.
Though it’s been just a handful of practices, Bryant certainly looks the part already. In Bryant’s very first practice open to the media, he caught a one-handed pass during individual drills. Bryant also offers a wealth of experience the Ravens simply don’t have at the position. He was spotted talking to rookie wide receiver James Proche during practice, seemingly embracing that part of his role with the team. It’s a pretty dramatic shift from the Bryant many might remember during his days with the Dallas Cowboys.
With a history of public blowups and issues with his role with the Cowboys, Bryant has said he’s come to Baltimore far more mature. Though he’s not likely to get a ton of targets, if he even makes it to the active list for a game this season, Bryant has said he’s happy for whatever role the team will give him as long as they’re winning. At 5-2 on the season right now, the Ravens are in a good spot but could be even better with a fully healthy and tuned-in Bryant.
The big question now is if and when Bryant will ever get to play a game with Jackson as his quarterback. Coach John Harbaugh brushed off the discussion following Baltimore signing the veteran wide receiver, pointing out Bryant had effectively been out of football for two years. If the Ravens’ offense once again struggles this week, against the Indianapolis Colts, Harbaugh might not have much of a choice but to put Bryant into the lineup to try and spark improvement. At the very least, Jackson seems to be for the idea.
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