Steelers’ Bryant facing suspension
PITTSBURGH – The hits just keep on coming for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A report surfaced Thursday that wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who caught eight touchdown passes in 10 games as a rookie in 2014, wasnotified by the NFL he is suspended for the first four games of the season for a violation of the league’s drug policy.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, who first reported the suspension, Bryant has appealed the suspension.
ESPN also reported Bryant’s suspension is for marijuana use. That means this is Bryant’s second positive test.
Players who test positive a first time enter Stage 1 of the league’s substance abuse policy, which requires regular testing.
A second positive test results in a four-game suspension. A third positive test would lead to a 10-game suspension.
Bryant’s loss would be the latest blow to what was the NFL’s second-leading offense in 2014.
Running back Le’Veon Bell, the AFC’s leading rusher in 2014, also is suspended for the first two games of the season following an arrest last August for DUI and marijuana possession.
And in the team’s 24-19 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a fractured left fibula that will keep him out for at least half of the season.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that Pouncey could be placed on Injured Reserve with a designation to return, which would mean he would be eligible to play again at midseason if his injured leg has healed.
“Obviously he has a chance,” Tomlin said of Pouncey’s return. “We will have more information as the initial recovery from the surgery subsides. Everyone feels good about the surgery, but I haven’t seen a surgery that everyone didn’t feel good about at this juncture.”
What Tomlin can’t feel good about is the potential loss for four games of Bryant, who was expected to take a big step forward after catching 26 passes for 549 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie last year.
Bryant did not speak about the report, but several of his teammates did.
“It’s one of those things, we’re going to have to address and see exactly what it is, if it can be appealed, and just move on from there,” guard Ramon Foster, the Steelers NFLPA representative, told WDVE. “If he is (suspended) the next guy has to be ready to step up and unfortunately we lose him for four games.
“It’s a little disappointing. But as a young guy he’s a guy that can right this thing and make it work for us. Good thing about it, it’ll only be four games, but we need him. We need him in a big way.”
That will especially be true in the first two games with Bell out.
More could be expected out of All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, who shared AFC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2014 with Bell.
“Obviously you know what he means to us. If that would be the case other guys have to step up,” Brown said of Bryant. “We’re excited for the guys that are going to be available, guys that are going to get some opportunities. I’m sure those guys are excited. We have to show up with no excuses and be ready to play.”
If Bryant is out, his spot as the Steelers’ No. 3 receiver behind Brown and Markus Wheaton would likely be filled by veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey.
In addition to Pouncey, the only player on the active roster that Tomlin said definitely would not play in the Steelers’ preseason game Saturday at Buffalo is defensive end Stephon Tuitt. … Rookie Tyler Murphy has been playing quarterback at practice during the week because of an injury to second-string QB Bruce Gradkowski. Tomlin said Murphy will likely play wide receiver against the Bills but could get a look as a quarterback, his college position, in the preseason finale against Carolina Sept. 3.