Nov 6, 2014 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Steelers rookie Martavis Bryant is accustomed to playing with other great wide receivers.

At Clemson, he often played second or even third fiddle on a roster that included DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins, who were first-round draft picks with Houston and Buffalo, respectively.

With the Steelers, Bryant is emerging as a big-play option in the passing game behind Antonio Brown, the NFL leader in receptions and receiving yards.

It might have taken a while, but that’s fine with Bryant, who caught 10 passes for 167 yards and five touchdowns since being inserted into the lineup three weeks ago.

Some might think Bryant, a fourth-round pick, would become frustrated after being inactive the first six games. But when Pittsburgh (6-3) plays the New York Jets (1-8) Sunday, Bryant will be on the field and a key part of the offense.

“I wouldn’t say I was frustrated. I would say it wasn’t easy,” Bryant said. “Everybody’s got to be patient. When your time presents itself, you know when it is and you have to take advantage of it.

“I did the same thing when I was a freshman in college, so it didn’t bother me. It’s a process. You have to respect the process and go along with it.”

Jets head coach Rex Ryan is quite familiar with Bryant. His son, Seth, is a wide receiver at Clemson and Rex Ryan goes to watch him play when his NFL schedule permits.

“It’s hard to cover 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds running a 4.3,” Ryan said with a laugh. “My son thought the world of him when he was there. He’s provided quite a red zone target for them.”

The Steelers exploded on offense since inserting the rookie into the lineup, scoring 30 or more points in their past three games thanks, in part, to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throwing 14 touchdown passes.

But Bryant strives to be more than just a red-zone target. He wants to be a complete receiver.

To help speed along that process, Bryant spends as much time as possible with Brown, the Steelers’ two-time MVP, listening and learning.

“He’s like my big brother,” said Bryant. “I ask him questions every day. We hang out together and we’re growing closer every day. I trust him; he trusts me. And we’re both just having fun on Sundays.”

Brown, with 71 catches for 996 yards and eight touchdowns, is on pace to shatter every team single-season receiving record. He is enjoying the role of being a mentor not only for Bryant, but for second-year receiver Markus Wheaton.

“That’s my responsibility, to set the tempo, to set the pace,” Brown said. “I’m just motivating guys and bringing them along, making sure they’re prepared and see what happens.

“It’s big. Guys are buying into the formula, studying hard, practicing hard, spending the extra time after practice, taking care of their bodies. It’s all the simple things of being a pro and taking care of their bodies.”

It wouldn’t seem Bryant and Brown would have a lot in common as receivers. Bryant’s game is built on his excellent size and speed. Brown (5-10, 188), on the other hand, is one of the best open-field runners in the NFL, relying on quickness and toughness to be effective.

“Don’t let that size fool you. Just because he’s small doesn’t mean he isn’t strong,” said Bryant. “He’s a great player and an awesome leader.”

It also takes somebody who’s willing to follow. Some players aren’t comfortable in that role. They want to be in the limelight. They want to be the clear-cut No. 1 guy.

But Bryant learned early on, it’s not how many opportunities you get, but how you take advantage of them.

Though he caught just 61 career passes in college, 13 went for touchdowns. He’s continued to do that in the NFL, where his five TDs tied former Steelers tight end Eric Green for the most in the league in his first three games.

“They told me about it,” Bryant said of the record. “It’s a great accomplishment. I’m just trying to get better every week, working hard in practice. I’m working my overall game to get better.”

After missing practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury, safety Ross Ventrone returned on a limited basis Thursday. … Linebacker Jason Worilds (abdomen) also returned to practice.