Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has yet to be fully reinstated by the NFL after he was suspended for the entire 2016 season, and that is apparently because he still has league-mandated requirements to fulfill.
In an email to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Bryant has not done everything he needs to do in order to have his ban fully lifted.
“He would be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games, once he satisfies requirements,” McCarthy wrote.
Bryant was conditionally reinstated back in April, allowing him to train at the Steelers’ facility and attend meetings and conditioning sessions. As of now, however, he can not join the team for official practices or participate in preseason games.
“Bryant may join the Steelers at the training facility and participate in meetings, conditioning work and similar activities,” the league said in a statement in April. “Once arrangements have been confirmed regarding Bryant’s clinical resources in Pittsburgh, he will be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games.”
It’s unclear exactly what Bryant must do in order to be granted full reinstatement, but most people believed it would have happened by now. Fortunately, the 25-year-old seems to be back on good terms with his quarterback after he and Ben Roethlisberger had a bit of a public spat earlier in the offseason. All Bryant needs is the green light from the league.
