ARLINGTON, Texas — On a day Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted that the team was looking to add a wide receiver, it didn't take long for that to become a reality.
The Cowboys are signing newly-reinstated wide receiver Martavis Bryant, according to team sources.
Bryant last played for the Oakland Raiders in 2018. He has 17 touchdowns to go along with 2,183 receiving yards in 44 career NFL games.
Bryant has had a career-long battle with substance abuse violations and suspensions that started early in his professional career.
While with the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Aug. 27, 2015, the NFL suspended Bryant for the first four games of the season because he violated the league's substance abuse policy.
On March 14, 2016, the NFL suspended Bryant for all of the 2016 NFL season for violating the league's substance abuse policy again.
The Steelers eventually traded Bryant to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2018 NFL season. On Sept. 1, 2018, the Raiders released Bryant. While he was facing a possible year-long suspension due to drug policy violations in the offseason, the Raiders eventually decided to re-sign him to a one-year deal.
On Dec. 14, 2018, the NFL suspended Bryant indefinitely for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement.
On Nov. 4, 2023, Bryant's agent said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had reinstated him. He practiced with the Cowboys on Monday before the team signed him on Tuesday.
During his time away from the NFL, the 6'3", 211-pound wide receiver played in the CFL, the Fan Controlled Football League the XFL.
Bryant will bring the Cowboys more wide receiver depth after the Cowboys most recently lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-23 on Sunday night, putting Dallas at 5-3 on the season.
The Eagles did all they could on Dallas' final drive to cough up the game. Dak Prescott needed to move the Cowboys 86 yards in 46 seconds for the potential winning score — and promptly got 56 yards of Eagles' penalties to reach the 6-yard-line.
On the cusp of a stunning comeback, Prescott instead was sacked by Josh Sweat for an 11-yard loss.
After a penalty on the Cowboys moved them to the 27, Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for 22 yards, but the wideout was tackled by Darius Slay at the 5 to end the game.