Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ventell Bryant has been suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season for violations of the NFL’s Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse. Per the team, Bryant will be able to participate in all preseason practices and games and will be eligible to return following the team’s Week 2 game vs. New Orleans.
The Panthers signed Bryant to their practice squad late last season, then signed him to a reserve/future contract this year. Before his time in Carolina, Bryant appeared in 12 games for the Cowboys, primarily on special teams. In college, the 6-foot-3, 205 pound receiver set the all-time receiving record at Temple in 2018, just a couple of years after head coach Matt Rhule left the program to coach at Baylor.
The Panthers look to have an intense battle at the bottom of the WR depth chart. The top five receivers have their place all-but-guaranteed, but players like Brandon Zylstra, Omar Bayless and Micah Simon will be competing for the final one or two spots throughout training camp. While Bryant was unlikely to make the Panthers’ 53-man roster prior to the suspension, this news likely hurts his chances at making the practice squad, too.
