Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is planning on checking into rehab after facing one-year suspension for substance abuse.
The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a huge blow to their roster on Saturday, when it was reported that wide receiver Martavis Bryant is facing at least a year-long suspension for multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Bryant had developed into one of the more talented wide receivers in the NFL and was a key member in the Steelers’ success this past season. The good news for the Steelers is that they have plenty of wide receiver depth on the roster, but losing Bryant still hurts.
With Bryant standing a good chance of missing the season if not longer depending on future tests, he will be checking into rehab, according to his agent Brian Fettner, via the USA Today.
"“We’re all stunned, me included,” Fettner said, shortly after broke news of the ban Saturday. “We clearly miscalculated the issue. His isn’t a party issue. It’s a coping issue and a depression issue, and he’s got to take care of it.”"
Bryant had previously had a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy, but he’s now jumped past the next step of a 10-game suspension all the way to at least a year-long suspension for his violation. It appears that Bryant and the Steelers are quickly acting on the news and hopefully rehab will allow him to get everything in order.
The suspension that he faces could be a tricky one for him to deal with as well. Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington faced the same type of suspension back in 2013 and has yet to be reinstated by the league.
Bryant has a ton of potential and it will be a shame to potentially not see him on a football field in 2016.