Ex-Steelers WR Martavis Bryant Scores First NFL TD in 6 Years

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant scored his NFL touchdown in six years in a preseason game for the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.

Bryant, who was suspended from the NFL indefinitely in 2018 after failing multiple drug tests, was reinstated last season and signed with the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, but did not appear in a game. He was released by the Cowboys this May and had been a free agent before joining Washington in the middle of training camp on Aug. 13.

Bryant caught the four-yard pass from former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Trace McSorley in the fourth quarter as the Commanders beat the New England Patriots, 20-10.

Welcome back to the end zone, Martavis 🙌

📺 #NEvsWAS NBC pic.twitter.com/dX1WE4Li9V

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 26, 2024

Bryant finished the night with three catches for 20 yards. He was targeted once without a catch in his first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 17, but did force a fumble during a Miami interception return.

Martavis Bryant had a big forced fumble in the final minute to give Washington the ball back after an interception. Extended the final drive.

Cole Turner struggling to hold onto the ball. Same thing happened in the joint practice, only Miami didn't fumble after. pic.twitter.com/Ej69BqVGdy

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 18, 2024

The 32-year-old played all over in his hiatus from the NFL, spending time with the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League, the FCF Beasts in Fan Controlled Football, the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL and the Vegas Vipers of the XFL before returning to the NFL with the Cowboys.

Martavis Bryant, XFL

The Steelers’ fourth round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Bryant spent the first three seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, catching 126 passes for 1,917 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Steelers traded Bryant to the Oakland Raiders before the 2018 season, but he played in just eight games before the suspension.

The Steelers got a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft in exchange for Bryant. They used that pick and another to trade up and select quarterback Mason Rudolph.