Mar 14, 2016 3 min read

The NFL suspended Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant without pay for one year Monday for multiple violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Bryant, who was suspended four games to open the 2015 season, missed several mandated drug tests according to his agent, Brian Fettner, who said the third-year receiver is dealing with depression.

Bryant was due a salary of $600,000 for 2016, with a salary cap hit of $700,000. His removal from the team’s roster while suspended will leave the team with $3.7 million in salary cap space.

Bryant has been placed on the reserve/suspended by the Commissioner list. He will still remain under contract with the Steelers for two years once his suspension is lifted.

“We are very disappointed that Martavis Bryant has put himself in this current situation of being suspended by the league,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement. “He is at a crossroads of his professional life, and he needs to understand significant changes need to occur in his personal life if he wants to regain his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. We are hopeful that Martavis will take the necessary steps to develop the discipline in his personal life to become a successful player and a good teammate.”

News of Bryant’s impending suspension broke Saturday and, according to Fettner, the receiver intends to appeal.

But an appeal of his four-game suspension last year for multiple violations of the substance-abuse policy was denied.

A 6-4 speedster who’s one of the best deep threats in the NFL, Bryant was a fourth-round draft pick in 2014, falling that far perhaps because of his off-field issues.

He didn’t appear in a game until after Week 6 in his rookie season because the Steelers didn’t feel he was ready to contribute. Since then, he has played in 21 games, caught 76 passes for 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also has one rushing touchdown.

Last season, he had 50 receptions for 765 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games, adding 14 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.

The loss of Bryant is a serious blow to the Steelers. In 2015, they averaged 27.5 points per game when he played, 24 when he did not.

The Steelers did re-sign veteran wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey last week and selected Sammie Coates in the third round of last year’s draft as insurance for Bryant.

Pittsburgh also added 6-6 pass-catching tight end Ladarius Green in free agency last Friday.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have reportedly extended an offer to Seattle free agent left tackle Russell Okung. The Steelers also are reported to have shown interest in Denver offensive tackle Ryan Harris and San Diego’s offenseive tackle Chris Hairston.

Also, the NFL has rescinded the $10,000 fine levied against Pittsburgh offensive line coach Mike Munchak for a sideline confrontation he had with Cincinnati’s Reggie Nelson during their playoff game in January.