ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders have added receiver Martavis Bryant, who last appeared in an NFL game six years ago and has since navigated a challenging journey through various lesser leagues to make his comeback.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Bryant, who faced an indefinite suspension for substance abuse in 2018 and was reinstated in November 2023, brings a valuable trait to the Commanders’ receiving lineup: height.
Currently, Washington has only one other receiver over 6 feet 2 inches in training camp—Brycen Tremayne, another 6-foot-4 wideout competing for one of the final roster spots.
To accommodate Bryant, the team released kicker Ramiz Ahmed. Coach Dan Quinn, who worked with Bryant while he was on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad last season, expressed confidence in him. “He’s looking great and is eager to demonstrate his abilities. He’s been prepared for some time, so it’s a positive to have him onboard,” Quinn remarked.
During his three seasons with the Steelers from 2014 to 2018, Bryant recorded 126 receptions, including 17 touchdowns. He missed the entire 2016 season due to a substance abuse suspension. After returning to the Steelers in 2017, he joined the Raiders the following year, but the NFL indefinitely suspended him in December 2018. Since then, he’s signed with two teams in the Canadian Football League without playing, as well as participating in the Indoor Football League, the Fan Controlled Football league, and the XFL.
Dallas brought Martavis Bryant onto their practice squad last season after he was reinstated, with Quinn serving as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator at that time.
“Martavis has a unique skill set. He combines size and length, making him effective in the red zone,” Quinn commented. “From a size perspective, he resembles a linebacker playing wide receiver.”
Quinn noted that Bryant’s size played a pivotal role in Washington’s choice to sign him, adding that facing him in practice further influenced the decision. The Commanders also evaluated Bryant during workouts in the spring after he was let go by Dallas.
“Seeing his abilities and how we matched up against him in practice allowed us to utilize him in scenarios that mimic a receiver’s size and speed,” Quinn explained. “He has impressive length and a substantial catch radius, allowing us to throw passes away from defenders, making him a valuable asset—if it’s not a catch, then it’s definitely not going to the other team.”
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