The Washington Commanders bolstered their wide receiver roster with an interesting signing before Tuesday’s practice. Officials liked what they saw after two separate visits to the building from Martavis Bryant. He signed on time, while unreliable kicker Ramiz Ahmed was sacrificed after failing to meet the increased standards when Riley Patterson joined the team.
Bryant is someone Dan Quinn knows well. He was on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad after being reinstated in 2023 without ever doing enough to break into the team’s plans. Whether the former Clemson star can hit the ground running and fight his way onto the 53-man roster is uncertain, but his arrival should add urgency for those who seem to have a permanent spot.
Although Bryant hasn’t played a competitive game since 2018, the Commanders wouldn’t take him lightly. He’s 6’4″ with a long wingspan and reliable hands. His 14 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers show he can be a force in the red zone. Quickly understanding the playbook is the biggest challenge with just weeks left until the final cuts.
That should set off alarm bells in the front office. General manager Adam Peters isn’t going to dally if he feels there’s room for improvement. If players don’t step up and take advantage of their opportunities, they won’t last long under this new regime.
Bryant doesn’t have to worry about causing trouble. He’s here to get another chance and repay the faith the Commanders put in him. His once-promising career ended abruptly thanks to a season-long suspension in 2016, which he violated again in 2018. Roger Goodell only lifted his lengthy suspension in November of last year, which is clearly a last-chance saloon scenario for the wideout.
The receiver will turn 33 during the season but has less tread on the tires than most aging players. Bryant is also looking to make up for some lost time, which should serve as a warning to other Commanders receivers to raise their respective performance levels.
Bryant faces a tough test, there’s no getting around it. It’s been a long time since the 2014 fourth-round pick has put together a decent series of performances, and he’ll need to make a quick impact to make the roster or practice squad – something the player can’t overlook in his last-ditch effort to salvage something from his career.
The fact that this move got Quinn’s seal of approval is notable. He spent time with Bryant last season, so this move won’t happen unless the head coach is happy with the player’s work ethic and overall character. The TL Hanna High School product made a ton of costly mistakes, so proving he’s changed is arguably the biggest battle of all.
No one should expect miracles from Bryant, although there will be one or two wideouts looking nervously over their shoulders after he impressed enough that his credentials will be worth a closer look in the coming weeks.
Bryant’s arrival and his impact on others will be a close watch.
