Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant was conditionally reinstated by the NFL on Tuesday after serving a one-year suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Bryant's return, should he continue to comply with league testing guidelines, will be a big boost for an offense that clearly lacked another receiver to take some of the coverage away from All-Pro Antonio Brown.
"We appreciate that he has taken the necessary steps in an effort to get his personal life in order," general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement. "We also understand this is just the beginning as he works to return to the team and meet all of the conditions of his reinstatement."
The announcement comes two days before the start of the three-day NFL draft, in which the Steelers were expected to select a wide receiver somewhere in the early rounds because of the uncertainty surrounding Bryant. Colbert said on Monday that Bryant's status would not affect the team's plans to consider a wide receiver in the draft.
"We are going to look at all the receivers and be prepared to act accordingly," Colbert said.
A fourth-round draft choice in 2014 who quickly developed into one of the best deep threats in the league, Bryant, 25, now has to regain the trust of his teammates, coaches and organization before he can become a viable part of the offense.
"We look forward to working with Martavis to ensure that he is mentally and physically prepared to contribute to our efforts on the field, while also maintaining the proper balance to keep his life in order off the field," Colbert said.
In two NFL seasons, Bryant (6-foot-5, 211 pounds) has 76 catches for 1,314 yards and, most crucially, 14 touchdowns and a 17.4 average.
