Commanders sign Bryant despite 6-year NFL gap

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders signed receiver Martavis Bryant, who last played in the NFL six years ago and embarked on a long journey through football’s minor leagues to return.

The 6-foot-4 Bryant, who was suspended indefinitely for drug use in 2018 and was reinstated in November 2023, offers the Commanders one aspect they lack in their receiving corps: size.

Washington has one other receiver taller than 6-2 in camp: Brycen Tremayne, a 6-4 wideout who is fighting for one of the last spots at the position.

Washington released kicker Ramiz Ahmed to make room for Bryant. Coach Dan Quinn was with Bryant in Dallas last year when Bryant was on the Cowboys’ practice squad from Nov. 6 until Jan. 4, when he was released.

“He’s in really good shape and he’s really hungry to prove it,” Quinn said. “He’s been ready for a while, so it’s good to have him here.”

Bryant caught 126 passes, 17 for touchdowns, during three seasons with Pittsburgh from 2014 to ’18; he did not play in 2016 after being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

After returning to the Steelers in 2017, Bryant signed with the Raiders the following season and was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in December 2018. He was later signed by two Canadian Football League teams, though he never played in a game. He also spent time in the Indoor Football League, the Fan Controlled Football league as well as the XFL.

Bryant said he didn’t know if he’d get another chance in the NFL, saying he just needed to be prepared — physically and mentally.

“Got to be strong-minded,” Bryant said. “I’ve been through a lot. I don’t give up on myself; I’ve always been a fighter.”

Dallas signed him last season to the practice squad after he was reinstated. Quinn was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.

“Martavis has a really cool skill set. He’s got size and length and the ability to use him in the red zone,” Quinn said. “He looks like a linebacker playing wideout from a size standpoint.”

Quinn said Bryant’s size was a factor in Washington’s decision to sign him. He also said coaching against him in practice helped make the decision. Washington also worked out Bryant in the spring after Dallas released him.

“Seeing the skills, seeing how we compete against him, oftentimes in practice we put him into a certain spot to simulate the size of a receiver, the speed of a receiver,” Quinn said. “He’s got a real size, like the catch radius, throw it over here, he has got length to throw it away from somebody … knowing, hey, this is incomplete, or my guy’s getting it.”

Bryant said he now weighs 208 pounds, having lost 22 pounds after last season. He still has an uphill battle to make the final roster, though Washington is not deep at the position. The Commanders do have Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Dyami Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey in addition to Olamide Zaccheaus and Jamison Crowder. The latter two also are competing for the punt returner’s job. It’s possible one spot will be available for Bryant and a handful of others.

“I’m thankful to be here and super excited. I’ve still got more work to put in. I have to look good,” Bryant said.

But his receiver traits were noticeable to his new teammates.

“When you see him out here running around and he’s big, strong and fast, he looks like he’s in great shape,” McLaurin said. “You’ve got to be ready for your moment and opportunity and I feel like that’s the reason why he’s here.”