The Steelers wide receiver could be back on the field very soon.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans have something to look forward to in an offseason filled with everything from talk of Big Ben retiring to LeVeon Bell not being signed to a long-term contract. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, wide receiver Martavis Bryant could be reinstated within days.
This is the second suspension for the troubled Steelers wide receiver. The NFL suspended Bryant for the entire 2016 NFL season for marijuana. Since then, he has been partially reinstated by the NFL.
About a week ago, news broke that the NFL had informed the Steelers that Bryant was still not fully reinstated. This meant that Brant could not play in any games until fully reinstated. Rapoport, in the video below, said he had heard Bryant was waiting for the paperwork to be filed.
The latest on #Steelers WR Martavis Bryant and what is taking so long... pic.twitter.com/KhbEQbr9dF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2017
According to Rapoport, Bryant was not fully reinstated right away because of the need to set up counseling. That has been done. He goes on in the video to say:
"He’s just waiting for the doctors and the counselors, people who saw him, to hand in their letters, get the paperwork cleared with the NFL, have the league process that, and then make him officially conditionally reinstated."
This is great news for the Steelers, as Bryant is a monster on the field. While the Steelers have Antonio Brown, arguably the best wide receiver in football, the rest of their WR corps is a bit thin. Bryant returning would give the Steelers a wonderful top pairing.
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According to Pro Football Reference, Bryant has a career average of just under 65 scrimmage yards per game. He also has about 0.7 touchdowns per game. While these numbers are nothing compared to Brown, they are quite respectable for a number two wide receiver.
In addition to having decent volume stats, Bryant is incredibly explosive. He had a 94-yard reception in 2014 and an 88-yard reception in 2015.
All of this is in spite of him only starting eight of his 21 career games. That is just under 40 percent. If Bryant can get on and stay on the field, the Steelers could be looking at an even more incredible offense in 2017.