The Washington Commanders have been looking to add something different to their receiving corps, and they may have found it.
The Commanders signed Martavis Bryant Tuesday, providing the Commanders with another experienced veteran and, more importantly, size at the position. He's listed at 6-foot-4 and weighs 208 pounds, making him one of the biggest receivers on the roster.
Though Bryant has one of the best resumes among Washington's receivers -- he caught 57.8% of his targets for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns -- his future on the roster is far from certain. He has not played in an NFL game since 2018, when he was signed by the Raiders organization.
Bryant has an opportunity to prove himself and get back to being the explosive option he was in Pittsburgh, and he's going to make the most of it.
"I've been through a lot," Bryant said. "I don't give up on myself. I never gave up. I've always been a fighter, and I'll continue to do that."
Bryant wanted to make sure he was ready for an opportunity, because he wasn't sure one would ever come.
After putting up 14 touchdowns in his first two seasons, six of which came in his first five games, Bryant received a year-long suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy in 2016 (he was suspended the first four games for his first offense). He was back in 2017 but received an indefinite suspension during the 2018 season following a trade to the Raiders.
Bryan spent the next five years trying to make a name for himself in other leagues. He was signed by the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 2021, although he never played a game for them. He also had brief stints with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League, the CFL's Edmonton Elks, the FCF Beasts in the Fan Controlled Football league and the Vegas Vipers in the XFL.
Bryant was reinstated by the NFL in November of 2023 and signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a practice squad player, where he made a strong impression on coach Dan Quinn, who was the Cowboys' defensive coordinator.
"Martavis has a really cool skill set," Quinn said. "He's got size and length and the ability to use him in the red zone ... He looks like a linebacker playing wide out from a size standpoint."
The Washington Commanders returned to practice at their facility following their preseason matchup with the Jets. Check out the top photos from the afternoon.
Bryant was released by the Cowboys in May, allowing Quinn, now the Commanders head coach, to bring him in for a chance to earn a roster spot. He worked out for the team during the offseason workout program and again earlier this week.
"It's an exciting reaction," Bryant said when his agent told him of the Commanders' interest. "But at the same time, you still gotta put the work in. You gotta come here, you gotta work, you gotta look good. I've been working hard this last season."
Bryant joins the Commanders' training camp with limited options to make an active NFL roster for the first time since 2018. Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Luke McCaffrey are all locks, while Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus appear to have earned spots with their recent successes in practice and the preseason. There could be a path for Bryant to do the same in the three weeks before Washington must make decisions on an initial 53-man roster, but players like Brycen Tremayne, Jamison Crowder, Kazmeir Allen and more are a few steps ahead of him because of their experience in the offense.
Quinn and general manager Adam Peters decided to give him a shot, though. It may be possible for Bryant to recapture some of the magic he had in the first two years of his career, when he was averaging 18.2 yards per reception and nearly one-fifth of his catches resulting in touchdowns. Their message to him was simple: work hard and give it his all.
"Going through practices with him last year and seeing him compete, he was ready to do that," Quinn said. "We didn't elevate him from the team, but he was certainly ready to do that."
Bryant was on the practice field shortly after signing with the Commanders, although most of his day was focused on getting up to speed with the offense. He participated in individual and special teams drills and got two reps in 11-on-11 drills. The rest of his day was spent with an offensive assistant.
From the limited amount that he's seen, he's already excited to be part of what Washington is trying to build.
"Super exciting, man," Bryant said. "Guys are out there making plays, working hard and playing fast."
As for how Bryant fits into that, he has a straightforward approach.
"Whatever they need me to do, man," Bryant said. " Just trying to get back and get better, learn every day, learn from my coaches, learn from my teammates."
