It took a few weeks and a COVID-19 scare, but wide receiver Dez Bryant caught his first touchdown pass as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. It was an 11-yard touchdown throw from quarterback Lamar Jackson to Bryant at the tail end of the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.
The veteran showed his experience by helping out Jackson, who was under pressure and looking for an open man in the end zone. On the play, Bryant craftily mirrored Jackson, moving left and beating his coverage to come open and catch the touchdown pass. Right after the score, Bryant threw up the “X” — his famous touchdown celebration — to the piped-in roar from the non-existent crowd.
THROW UP THE X! @DezBryant TOUCHDOWN!
Tune in on CBS pic.twitter.com/dNfW19EKEB
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 20, 2020
Maybe I’m alone here, but seeing Bryant catch a touchdown pass for the Ravens was towards the bottom of any list of things I was expecting this season. But at any rate, this is Bryant’s first touchdown in over three years, after getting cut from the Dallas Cowboys following the 2017 season. Bryant has contributed intermittently after being elevated from the practice squad, but looks primed for a bigger role as Baltimore makes a playoff push.
This event, while seemingly routine for a team that’s been averaging just shy of 28 points per game, signals the heralded return of Bryant, who has been looking to re-establish himself in the league for some time now.
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