Bryant suspended over substance abuse policy
The NFL suspended Raiders receiver Martavis Bryant indefinitely Friday for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy.
Bryant, 26, was suspended twice previously for violating the policy, missing four games in 2015 and all of the 2016 season while with the Steelers. He has been on the Raiders’ injured reserve list since Dec. 5 with a knee injury.
An NFL spokesman said in a statement: “Effective immediately, Martavis Bryant has been returned to the Reserve/Commissioner Suspended list indefinitely for violating the terms of his April 2017 conditional reinstatement under the Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.”
The Raiders traded a thirdround draft pick to Pittsburgh in April for Bryant, who was expected to give their offense a downfield threat. At the time, then-general manager Reggie McKenzie said Bryant could be “a dynamic receiver,” while Bryant expressed gratitude for having a “clean slate” in Oakland.
“I had my difficulties in my past but I’ve come a long way from that,” Bryant said in April. “It’s all about just keeping the right resources around me, continuing to stay on the right path. And I’m going to make sure I get that done.”
Bryant’s availability, though, was an issue as early as training camp, when he missed several practices due to headaches. Head coach Jon Gruden referred to Bryant as “the white tiger,” referencing rare sightings while in Napa.
The Raiders actually waived Bryant from their initial 53man roster Sept. 1, at which time it was reported by ESPN that Bryant was facing suspension. Gruden the following day said he did not regret trading a third-round pick for Bryant.
“I think the guy’s a superb talent,” Gruden said Sept. 2. “Not everything’s a perfect science. We’ll be criticized for that. But it was a risk, I think, well worth taking.”
Bryant passed through waivers — and the Raiders signed him back to their active roster in Week 2. In eight games with the Raiders this season, though, Bryant totaled just 19 catches for 266 yards and no touchdowns, as his role in the offense never really materialized.
Bryant injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee in Week 10 against the Chargers and was placed on IR on Dec. 5. Even then, some Raiders maintained Bryant’s potential.
“He definitely has something that a lot of people don’t have,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “I think we’ve all seen that. … There’s so much there that you just want to un-tap.”
That is unlikely to happen with the Raiders now, given Bryant’s status with the league and his contract expiring after this season. Injury report: Left guard Kelechi Osemele (toe) was ruled out for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati while right guard Gabe Jackson (elbow) is questionable. Gruden said Chaz Green will start for Osemele, and Denzelle Good would start at right guard if Jackson can’t play.