Bryant ‘happy to be back’

Receiver Martavis Bryant said on Thursday that he was “very surprised” to be waived by the Raiders amid roster cutdowns Sept. 1

“Honestly, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Bryant said. “I just stayed focused, talked to my agent and continued to do the proper things I needed to do to put myself in a situation to get back to football.”

He didn’t have to wait long. The Raiders re-signed Bryant, 26, on Wednesday, just 11 days after deciding not to carry him on their Week 1 roster.

Little about Bryant’s tenure has been typical since the Raiders acquired him from Pittsburgh for a third-round draft pick in April. Head coach Jon

Gruden touted Bryant in April but criticized his play and grasp of the offense in training camp. Gruden also dubbed Bryant the “white tiger” for missing practices with headaches. After Bryant was cut, Gruden said other receivers had “outperformed” him.

It also has been reported multiple times, including by ESPN on Sept. 1, that Bryant is facing NFL discipline under its substance-abuse policy. A suspension has not been announced, however. Bryant was suspended twice under the policy, most recently in 2016 while with the Steelers.

On Thursday, speaking to media for the first time since April, Bryant was asked about his past few months.

“I don’t too much try to think about the negative parts of it,” Bryant said. “This is just another thing that I’ve been through in my career.

“I’ve been in the league five years and I haven’t had an establishing career. I made mistakes when I was at a younger age and I learned from that. I didn’t get overly down on myself. I picked myself up the first time and ever since then, so I’ve been through it before and I know how to stay focused.”

Bryant also was asked if he is aware of any impending NFL discipline.

“I don’t know nothing about none of that,” he said. “All I’m here to do is to play football, and as far as that stuff, let the process take care of itself.”

Bryant said he spent the 10 days after being waived with family and did not watch football. He did the same thing while suspended in 2016 “so I don’t get distracted or overly frustrated and end up doing something stupid.” Offensive coordinator Greg

Olson said Bryant stayed in shape and “retained a lot of the things we were doing with him” scheme-wise. Bryant said he intends to be available Sunday at Denver and is “happy to be back.”

“I’m going to go out and put hard work in with the guys,” Bryant said. “And if coach needs me to go Sunday, I’ll be ready to go.”