Bryant denies reports
when the Steelers had a first down at the Chiefs 2 and Ben Roethlisberger passed incomplete on two of the next three plays before settling for a field goal.
Bryant played his fewest snaps on offense this season in Kansas City, 33, while rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster played 44. In the previous game against Jacksonville, Bryant was on the field for 62 snaps and Smith-Schuster 65. In their victory at Baltimore, Bryant played 48 snaps.
He has been on the field as a wide receiver more than anyone except Antonio Brown. But the production just has not been there, for whatever reason. On their first offensive play in Chicago, Bryant admitted he slowed down on a deep pass and the ball glanced off his fingertips. He was open on a deep pass that would have gone for a touchdown in Baltimore but Roethlisberger acknowledged he did not see him.
Against Jacksonville, the Steelers threw him short passes to try to spring him loose.
His best game came in the home opener against Minnesota when he caught three passes for 91 yards, one a 27yard touchdown. He also drew a 49-yard pass interference penalty when he was grabbed from behind on a ball he would have caught. That gave the Steelers a first down at the Vikings 12 and they proceeded to score a touchdown.
Yet, the Steelers have seemed to underuse him, particularly in the red zone. Bryant (6 feet 4) showed he could be a force around the goal line and the Steelers have had their problems inside the 20 again this season. They failed to score all three times they reached the red zone against Jacksonville, kicking field goals on each.
Bryant has caught 17 passes for 231 yards. He caught two of the three passes directed at him for 27 yards in Kansas City.
The Steelers are not likely to acquiesce to Bryant’s wishes to be traded before the Oct. 31 deadline. But with his request now public, how they use him the rest of this season will come under scrutiny. Bryant has this year and next left on a fouryear contract he signed after the Steelers drafted him in the fourth round in 2014.
The four-year deal was “tolled” after Bryant was suspended all of last season for multiple violations of the NFL substance-abuse policy. Another failed drug test would cause him to be suspended for at least another year.
Bryant isn’t the first Steelers wide receiver to express his frustration over the past several weeks. Antonio Brown gestured in disgust when Roethlisberger did not see him wide open on a route Oct. 1 in Baltimore. Brown attacked a water cooler on the sideline and argued with coaches and teammates.
Three days later, Bryant was asked if he ever were that frustrated to do something similar.
“No,” he replied. “I don’t do that.”