Bryant makes awaited debut in training camp
It didn’t take Martavis Bryant very long to draw a reaction from Steelers fans gathered to watch his first training camp practice in more than two years. On one of the first plays during receiver-cornerback drills, he caught a pass against Ross Cockrell for a touchdown.
“He looked like Martavis,” coach Mike Tomlin said after Sunday’s practice at Saint Vincent College. “He’s a talented athlete. He’s in a good condition, but that’s just an element of it. Knocking the rust off, getting acclimated to football and the details associated with what it requires to win at this level will be a process. It will be fun to watch him work through it.”
Bryant missed the first two-plus weeks of camp because the NFL said he had yet to satisfy certain requirements regarding his conditional reinstatement after a yearlong drug suspension. He was cleared late last week to take part in all preseason activities including games, but he’ll have to get a final go-ahead from the league before the regular season begins.
“It felt great,” Bryant said. “I have a little rust on me. I just have to get in shape and come every day to get better.”
Tomlindid not say if Bryant will play in the next preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at Heinz Field. There are four more practices before the game, so it is possible for the Steelers to get him into playing shape in that time.
“I’m in great shape outside of football,” Bryant said. “It’s different when you have people pulling on you and running with pads. I just have to come out here and run hard every day and I’ll be fine. I’m working on getting ready. I still have a lot of work to do. I’m going to put in the work. When the time comes I’ll be ready to go.”
Injury update
Several players who have been out with injuries returned to practice, most notably cornerback Artie Burns, who missed a week with a knee injury. He was a full participant in practice.
Others, including running back James Conner, receiverJuJu Smith-Schuster and cornerback Cam Sutton, came back on a limited basis. Conner hasn’t been a full participant in practice since injuring his shoulder in the first padded practice two weeks ago. Smith-Schuster was evaluated for a concussion during the preseason game and Sutton was back after missing two weeks with a lower body injury.
“We’re getting some guys back who missed some time,” Tomlin said. “It’s important for them. It’s important for us to have them back out here. We’ll continue to push forward and stay in training camp mode.”
Among those who did not practice Sunday were Ryan Shazier, Senquez Golson, Mike Mitchell, Sammie Coates, Anthony Chickillo and Demarcus Ayers.
Center Maurkice Pouncey did not attend practice. Tomlin said it was an excused absence.