Tag: Martavis Bryant

Commanders WR Martavis Bryant may have won a roster spot with one play

One play could help Martavis Bryant make Washington’s roster.

When the Washington Commanders signed veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant two weeks ago, it was mostly viewed as roster depth. There was no way a player who had been out of the NFL for six years could make the team.

But Bryant is different than most. The fact he has been out of the NFL that long and even has the opportunity to make a team should tell you everything about Bryant’s talent.

At 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Bryant ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds back in 2014. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the fourth round of that draft.

Bryant once appeared destined for superstardom, but multiple suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy derailed his career. He last played a game in the NFL in 2018. During his absence from the NFL, Bryant had stints in the CFL, Indoor Football League, FCF, and XFL.

However, in 2023, the Dallas Cowboys signed Bryant to their practice squad. While he never played in a game for the Cowboys, he impressed then-defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who is now the head coach of the Commanders.

Earlier this offseason, the Commanders brought Bryant in for a workout but didn’t sign him. After seeing their receivers for a few weeks into training camp, Washington chose to sign Bryant.

In Sunday’s preseason finale against the Patriots, Bryant caught three passes for 20 yards, including a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and drew a pair of pass interference penalties.

Here’s the touchdown.

While that is impressive, Bryant’s effort on Washington’s go-ahead touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter will excite general manager Adam Peters and the coaching staff.

Check out Bryant here, blocking in the fourth quarter of a preseason game. It was a key block, too, as running back Michael Wiley scored on the play.

It’s that type of effort that Bryant showed that helps coaches decide between a player or two. It’s all about effort. Bryant is a player who once had it all and is now fighting for his football life. He’s happy to be here and willing to do whatever it takes for another shot at the NFL.

Bryant’s effort is part of the reason the Commanders soured on 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson before trading him to the Philadelphia Eagles last week.

One play doesn’t make or break anyone, but Bryant gives Washington something it lacks: Size at the wide receiver position. When you also factor in his effort and athleticism, Bryant impressed the Commanders over the past two weeks and has a chance of making the 53-man roster.

Commanders defeat Patriots 20-10 in preseason finale

Washington wraps up the preseason with a 20-10 win over the Patriots.

The Washington Commanders defeated the New England Patriots 20-10 on Sunday night to complete the 2024 preseason.

The Commanders went into halftime trailing 7-0, as the offense failed to get going in the first half. However, things began to shift in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarterback, behind quarterback Trace McSorley.

McSorley, an Ashburn native signed less than two weeks ago, led the Commanders to 20 second-half points. McSorley led four scoring drives, including two touchdown drives. Washington’s first touchdown came in the fourth quarter when undrafted rookie running back Michael Wiley scored his second touchdown of the preseason.

After a defensive stop, McSorley led an impressive nine-play, 86-yard drive culminating with a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Like McSorley, Bryant only recently signed with the Commanders after being out of the NFL for six years.

Another newcomer, kicker Cade York, made both of his field goal and point-after attempts.

McSorley completed 12 of 21 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. McSorley also rushed for 40 yards. Jeff Driskel started the game and completed 12 of 18 passes for 73 yards with an interception.

The Commanders rushed for 114 yards with McSorley leading the way.

Washington finishes the preseason with a 1-2 record and now prepares for a Week 1 game at Tampa Bay.

Martavis Bryant intends to prove the Commanders right

Bryant is grateful for opportunity with the Commanders. His signing is a low-risk move by GM Adam Peters.

It’s been a long and challenging road for wide receiver Martavis Bryant in his long journey back to the NFL. On Tuesday, Bryant signed with the Washington Commanders. The 32-year-old hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2018.

At 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Bryant has the size that Washington currently lacks at wide receiver, outside of Brycen Tremayne. As head coach Dan Quinn said on Tuesday, Bryant looks like a linebacker playing receiver.

It was Quinn who wanted to take a chance on Bryant after practicing against him last season. Bryant signed with the Dallas Cowboys practice squad in November and worked against Quinn’s defense daily.

“Martavis has a really cool skill set,” Quinn said. “He’s got size and length and the ability to use him in the red zone.”

Here’s Bryant in his first Washington practice:

After Tuesday’s practice, Bryant chatted with the media and is grateful for this opportunity.

“Great opportunity, truly blessed, thankful for the organization, thankful to be here, super excited,” Bryant said.

How does Bryant plan to get up to speed?

“Talking to the coaches, talking to my teammates, getting familiar with everything, it’s my first day, so I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Bryant believes his brief time on the Dallas practice squad helped him earn this opportunity with Washington.

“Being on the practice squad in Dallas last year was definitely good because he got to see me every day. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to play, but he got to see me in practice.”

What does Bryant think of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense?

“Super exciting, guys out here making plays, guys out here working hard and playing fast.”

Bryant acknowledged he never knew if another opportunity would come, but he would always be prepared, noting he played at 230 pounds last season and is down to 208 pounds when he signed with the Commanders.

It’s difficult to know what Bryant can offer. Quinn saw enough in practice against his top-five defense last season to think that Bryant still has plenty to offer. Early in his NFL career, Bryant appeared destined for superstardom. He could take a short hitch and run through, past and around defenders for a touchdown. He had it all: Size, speed, hands.

This is a low-risk signing for the Commanders. If Bryant isn’t better than any of the team’s top six receivers, they can cut him and move on. If they like the others better for now, they could sign him to the practice squad and give him more time to learn the offense and bring him up.

It will be interesting to see Bryant in Washington’s final two preseason games and how much action he gets compared to some of the other receivers battling to make the 53-man roster.

Ex-Steelers WR Martavis Bryant given another shot at come-back

Former Steelers WR Martavis Bryant has been signed by the Commanders.

Ah, Martavis Bryant. A name Pittsburgh Steelers fans all know well as a once-promising prospect who failed to meet expectations.

Bryant, 32, has now been given another shot at a come-back, this time by the Washington Commanders.

Bryant was reinstated by NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell last November after serving an indefinite suspension handed down in 2018. He was immediately snapped up for the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.

But it’s been six years since Bryant, the Steelers’ fourth-round draft pick in 2014, has played in the NFL. His history of substance abuse issues led to multiple suspensions, the most recent in 2018.

Bryant last played at the highest level with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018. He had a stint in the CFL and spent the 2022 season with Rod Woodson’s Vegas Vipers.

In four NFL seasons (he was suspended for the entirety of 2016), he logged 145 receptions on 251 targets for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns. His best season, 765 yards and six scores, came with Pittsburgh in 2015.

Though Bryant has an uphill battle to make Washington’s final roster, the team is thin at the position.

“I’m thankful to be here and super excited,” Bryant said, via ESPN’s John Keim. “I’ve still got more work to put in. I have to look good.”

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REPORT: Commanders sign former Steelers star WR Martavis Bryant

According to a report, the Washington #Commanders signed former Pittsburgh #Steelers star Martavis Bryant.

The Washington Commanders made waves on Tuesday morning by signing former Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Martavis Bryant after their loss to the New York Jets in preseason action over the weekend.

Bryant, who was once considered to be among the NFL’s most exciting pass-catchers, has been in and out of the league for years after suspensions derailed his meteoric rise to stardom in the 2010s.

He was a member of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad last season but was released on May 8 shortly after the 2024 NFL draft.

The news of Bryant’s signing with Washington was reported by league insider Adam Schefter on Twitter:

It is unclear what Bryant’s role in the Commander’s offense would be if he makes Washington’s 53-man roster.

The veteran’s return to the NFL has the potential to be a major storyline heading into the regular season if he stands out during the Commanders’ remaining exhibition matchups over the next few weeks.

Commanders sign WR Martavis Bryant, release one of their kickers

The Commanders sign Bryant and move on from one of their kickers.

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.

Commanders to bring in veteran WR Martavis Bryant for a workout

It’s the second time Washington is hosting Bryant for a workout.

For the second time in the past few months, the Washington Commanders are bringing in veteran free-agent wide receiver Martavis Bryant for a workout on Tuesday.

The Commanders brought Bryant in for a visit in May. The 32-year-old Bryant signed with the Dallas Cowboys late last season but did not play in a game. He has not played in an NFL game since 2018, when he appeared in two games for the then-Oakland Raiders. Bryant began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a fourth-round pick out of Clemson in the 2014 NFL draft.

Here’s what we wrote about Bryant in May:

Bryant showed tremendous promise early in his career before being suspended for the entire 2016 NFL season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. It was his second such suspension, as Bryant missed the first four games of the 2015 season.

He was reinstated ahead of the 2017 season and finished with 50 receptions for 603 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers traded Bryant to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018 for a third-round pick. However, the Raiders released Bryant before the season after another violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The Raiders then re-signed Bryant just 10 days later, and he played in eight games that season with 19 receptions and 266 yards.

Bryant would be out of football until 2021, when he signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts. He’d never play for Toronto as he was suspended after not reporting for training camp. After his release, he signed with an Indoor Football League team, followed by another CFL stint, this time with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was released before ever playing a game.

He signed with the Fan Controlled Football League in 2022 and was drafted by the XFL’s Vegas Vipers in 2021. He caught 14 passes for 154 yards in eight games and was released so that he could sign with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

Washington coach Dan Quinn was with Dallas last season, which explains the connection to the Commanders.

In the four NFL seasons in which he has played, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bryant has 145 receptions for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Commanders have some uncertainty at the bottom of their depth chart at wide receiver. Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Dyami Brown and Luke McCaffrey are locked into making the 53-man roster, with Olamide Zaccheaus likely to make the roster, too. There are several other players battling for the final one or two spots — depending on how many receivers Washington keeps.

Bryant wouldn’t appear to be a fit, as receivers on the bottom of the depth chart often contribute on special teams.

Commanders to work out veteran WR Martavis Bryant

Bryant hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2018.

The Washington Commanders may not be done adding to the wide receiver room.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that Washington plans to work out veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday. Bryant, 32, was a fourth-round pick back in the 2014 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bryant showed tremendous promise early in his career before being suspended for the entire 2016 NFL season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. It was his second such suspension, as Bryant missed the first four games of the 2015 season.

He was reinstated ahead of the 2017 season and finished with 50 receptions for 603 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers traded Bryant to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018 for a third-round pick. However, the Raiders released Bryant before the season after another violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The Raiders then re-signed Bryant just 10 days later, and he played in eight games that season with 19 receptions and 266 yards.

Bryant would be out of football until 2021, when he signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts. He’d never play for Toronto as he was suspended after not reporting for training camp. After his release, he signed with an Indoor Football League team, followed by another CFL stint, this time with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was released before ever playing a game.

He signed with the Fan Controlled Football League in 2022 and was drafted by the XFL’s Vegas Vipers in 2021. He caught 14 passes for 154 yards in eight games and was released so that he could sign with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

Washington coach Dan Quinn was with Dallas last season, which explains the connection to the Commanders.

In the four NFL seasons in which he has played, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bryant has 145 receptions for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Former Clemson star wide receiver cut by the Dallas Cowboys

Former Clemson wide receiver Martavis Bryant will look for a new opportunity in the NFL.

Former Clemson wide receiver Martavis Bryant will look for a new opportunity in professional football.

According to multiple reports, Bryant has been cut by the Cowboys, ending his time in Dallas. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero did note that team’s are interested in Bryant, meaning he has a strong chance of returning to the NFL with another team.

After completing 44 games with the Steelers and Raiders from 2014 to 2018, Bryant, a seasoned veteran, took time away from football for almost five seasons following a suspension. His return to the field came through a tryout with the Cowboys, with the organization liking what they saw from the wide receiver. Bryant recorded 145 catches for 2,183 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns while playing for the Steelers and later the Raiders.

Report: Cowboys release WR Martavis Bryant

From @ToddBrock24f7: Bryant was brought to Dallas last November but did not see the field. His release could signal a new veteran WR signing for the Cowboys.

For the second time in 125 days, Martavis Bryant has been released by the Cowboys.

The wide receiver, who was signed by the team to a reserve/futures contract in mid-January, has now been let go, according to a Wednesday report from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, who cited a source.

Bryant, 32, had first joined the Cowboys back in November, just after his reinstatement to the NFL following a 2018 suspension. Having bounced around the Indoor Football League, the CFL, Fan Controlled Football, and the XFL in his time away, Bryant remained on the Cowboys’ practice squad as he worked to get himself back into NFL shape.

A former fourth-round draft pick out of Clemson, he was released just after the first of the year to make room for La’el Collins as a depth piece heading into the playoffs. Shortly after the team’s postseason loss to Green Bay, though, Bryant was re-signed to continue his comeback bid.

Now the experiment is apparently over for good. Bryant’s release comes just hours after it was announced that the Cowboys were hosting free agent receiver Zay Jones for a visit.

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The writing could very well be on the wall for a Jones signing, giving the team’s WR room the veteran experience that Bryant was hoped to bring. Of course, the Cowboys could be making room for someone else, maybe at a different position altogether.

Other teams around the league are expected to be interested in inviting Bryant to town. He has not played in an NFL game since 2018.

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