Veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant took another step toward returning to the NFL after a six-year hiatus by signing with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday. Bryant, now 32, was indefinitely suspended by the NFL in 2018 due to multiple drug violations and wasn’t reinstated until last November. He spent time on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad late last season before being released on January 4. After a workout at the Commanders’ training camp, he secured a spot on the team. Washington coach Dan Quinn, as reported by ESPN, stated, “He’s in excellent shape and eager to prove himself. He’s been ready for this opportunity for a while, so it’s great to have him on board.” In 2023, Bryant attempted to revive his NFL career by playing for the XFL’s Vegas Vipers, where he caught 14 passes for 154 yards across eight games, though he did not score any touchdowns.
Martavis Bryant caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in 44 games (including 18 starts) with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2014-15, 2017) and the then-Oakland Raiders (2018). Drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round in 2014, Bryant faced multiple suspensions due to violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy, including a four-game suspension in 2015 and a year-long suspension in 2016 for reportedly missing several drug tests. He was suspended indefinitely in 2018 after violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement. At 6-foot-4, Bryant brings much-needed size to the Commanders’ receiving corps. Washington coach Dan Quinn, who was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator last year when Bryant joined their practice squad, commented on Bryant’s unique attributes: “Martavis has a really cool skill set. He’s got size, length, and the ability to be a threat in the red zone. From a size standpoint, he looks like a linebacker playing wideout.”
