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Thirty-two-year-old wide receiver Martavis Bryant is one step closer to making his official return to the NFL. He’s shed a ton of weight to do so.
The pass catcher has been battling for a roster spot since last season when he was reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell.
Bryant was a college star at Clemson, buoying a productive junior season into a fourth-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.
He shined in his first two seasons, racking up 14 touchdown receptions across 21 games, but off-the-field issues would stunt his NFL growth.
He was suspended for the entirety of the 2016 campaign for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was then busted again in 2018 as a member of the Raiders, resulting in an indefinite ban.
In 2023, Goodell reinstated the wideout, which allowed Bryant to land a spot on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
Now, he’s looking to take the next step.
Martavis Bryant has signed with the Washington Commanders.
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
Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is now the head coach for rival Washington, and he saw enough from the receiver last year to offer him a chance at making the Commanders‘ roster.
While he hasn’t recorded an NFL catch since the ’18 season, he certainly has the tools to play at a high level.
At 6-4, he boasts size that’s been lacking on the Washington depth chart, and his speed has been one of his top traits dating back to his time at Clemson.
“Martavis has a really cool skillset,” said Quinn. “He’s got size and length… He looks like a linebacker playing wideout.”
It seems his work ethic remains, too.
“Last season, I was 230 (pounds),” Bryant said while speaking to media on Tuesday. “Now, I’m down to 208.”
New Commanders WR Martavis Bryant spoke to reporters after practice today.
He said it’s “a blessing and an honor” to be back on the field again with an NFL team.
Martavis added, “each opportunity you get is a blessing.” pic.twitter.com/7iW3425Yg8
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) August 13, 2024
While a roster spot still isn’t guaranteed, his signing represents another step closer to completing his journey. He’s worked hard to get to this point after spending time in the CFL, XFL, and on practice teams.
The wideout seems dedicated to his NFL goal. We’ll see if the dream comes to fruition this fall.