Why was Martavis Bryant suspended? WR signs with Commanders after six-year break

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Martavis Bryant 081324
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Martavis Bryant is finally back in the NFL after a six-year hiatus.

The 6-4 wide receiver last played for the Raiders in 2018 before being suspended indefinitely for substance abuse. Bryant was reinstated in 2023 and spent a few months on the Cowboys' practice squad.

Ahead of the 2024 season, he now joins the Commanders, where he'll fight for one of the last remaining roster spots ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Washington's wide receiver corps is relatively weak behind star Terry McLaurin, so Bryant could have a decent-sized role if he makes the team.

Here's all you need to know about Bryant's past and what to expect from him with the Commanders this season.

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Why was Martavis Bryant suspended?

Bryant was suspended three times in four years for repeatedly breaking the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The NFL treats multiple violations under a three-strike rule, giving out more severe punishments for each time the player violates the policy.

The NFL suspended Bryant for the first time in 2015 while the wideout was with the Steelers. He was missed the first four games of the 2015 season.

Bryant violated the rule again, so the league suspended him for the entire 2016 season. He returned to the Steelers in 2017, playing 15 games.

The Raiders acquired him via a trade during the 2018 NFL Draft, but he played just eight games before going on injured reserve. The league suspended him indefinitely for substance abuse in December 2018.

Bryant applied for reinstatement in 2019, but commissioner Roger Goodell did not approve the request until November 2023.

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Commanders WR depth chart

The Commanders haven't finalized their wide receiver corps yet, so Bryant has a shot to fill in one of the remaining spots.

Although Bryant hasn't played in an NFL game since 2018, he brings size to a rather small wide receiver room.

Bryant, 6-4, joins Brycen Tremayne as the only two Commanders receivers taller than 6-3. Tremayne has not played in an NFL game since going undrafted in 2023, so it's entirely possible that he doesn't make the final roster.

Here's a list of the Commanders wide receivers midway through the preseason.

  • Terry McLaurin
  • Jahan Dotson
  • Luke McCaffrey
  • Dyami Brown
  • Olamide Zaccheaus
  • Jamison Crowder
  • Byron Pringle
  • Martavis Bryant
  • Mitchell Tinsley
  • Davion Davis
  • Brycen Tremayne
  • Kazmeir Allen

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Martavis Bryant stats

Year Team GP Rec. Rec. Yards Rec. TDs
2014 Steelers 10 26 549 8
2015 Steelers 11 50 765 6
2016*
2017 Steelers 15 50 603 3
2018 Raiders 8 19 266 0

*Suspended for entire season

How old is Martavis Bryant?

Bryant is 32 years old and will turn 33 in December.

The Steelers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft after he spent three years at Clemson.

Bryant last played in the NFL in 2018 when he was 26. As a 31-year-old, he joined the Cowboys practice squad in 2023.

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How tall is Martavis Bryant?

Bryant is 6-4, making him one of the tallest wide receivers on the Commanders.

His size instantly makes him a threat downfield, especially in the red zone. He not have the same explosiveness as he did when he was 26, but the Commanders can still take advantage of his height.

Martavis Bryant net worth

Bryant's net worth is estimated to be around $4 million, according to Net Worth Post via SportsKeeda.

Bryant signed a four-year rookie deal with the Steelers in 2014 worth about $2.66 million. He played just three years in Pittsburgh, having been suspended in 2016.

The wide receiver signed a one-year deal with the Raiders worth about $1.9 million in 2018. He was indefinitely suspended later that year.

His contract with the Commanders is listed at about $1.13 million for the 2024 season, according to Spotrac. But that could change if he doesn't make the team.

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Brendan O'Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News.
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