The Dallas Cowboys have signed wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the practice squad. The move came after the Cowboys had Bryant work out at their facility, as confirmed by Cowboys chief operating officer and executive vice president Stephen Jones on Monday.
The deal allows him to be elevated for game day three times while maintaining his practice squad status.
"He's a guy that's a big, strong, fast receiver that we'll certainly take a look at," said Jones.
The Cowboys are facing challenges with their receiving corps, particularly with Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks. The signing of Bryant aims to support the team's wide receiver depth, although it may be some time before he appears in an NFL game.
"With the Cowboys signing WR Martavis Bryant to the practice squad, my understanding there is currently no immediate plans to elevate him," wrote NFL insider for CBS Sports Josina Anderson on X.
“With Bryant's recent reinstatement by the Commissioner, Dallas wants to methodically take time to evaluate him and see if he can add to what they have.”
Bryant's return to the NFL after an extended absence raises questions about what he can bring to the field.
"Bryant clearly had no camp & still needs to learn their offensive system. They will see how it goes," said Anderson.
Since the NFL has relaxed its policies on marijuana and marijuana-related offenses, there is optimism that Bryant will be more consistently available for play. The focus now turns to Bryant's integration into the team's practice and playbook.
Bryant's NFL career
Bryant entered the NFL as a promising wide receiver prospect from Clemson. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with the league. During his rookie season, he caught eight touchdowns in just ten games. He recorded 765 receiving yards in 11 games during his second year in the league.
Bryant's career was marred by multiple violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, leading to suspensions. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season and later faced an entire season suspension in 2016. In 2017, he was conditionally reinstated by the league, after which he contributed 50 catches for 603 yards and three touchdowns.
Following his time with the Steelers, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders in 2018 but faced the possibility of a year-long suspension for another violation. Bryant's tenure with the Raiders saw him post 19 catches for 266 yards and no touchdowns in eight games before the NFL handed down an indefinite suspension for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement.
After that, Bryant had brief stints in other professional football leagues. He signed with two different CFL teams but didn't play a snap for either. He briefly joined the Beasts of the FCF league, where he caught eight passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
The 31-year-old's most recent football activity took place this summer with the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.