DQ Has 'Appreciation' For Martavis Bryant 'Journey'

Success in the NFL is never linear, and for Washington Commanders receiver Martavis Bryant , his career hasn't been a straight line; there have been a fair few detours.

But that's ok; every player's journey in the NFL is different, and Bryant, who was on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad last year, got his chance in the Commanders' preseason finale against the New England Patriots.

He is not a big reception receiver anymore, but Bryant still offers something in the redzone with his size and physicality, both of which were on display as he hauled in three catches for 20 yards and a touchdown against New England.

Head coach Dan Quinn, who is familiar with Bryant's story, which includes multiple suspensions and then an indefinite suspension in 2018, appreciates what Bryant has gone through.

"Yeah, I think as a ball player and a teammate you really have appreciation for somebody's journey," Quinn said of Bryant . "Maybe even if you might not have been a part of that. But you recognize it when things don't always go the way you'd hoped it would. So, for someone like him to stay with it, that shows a lot of grit where it would've been real easy just to walk away and not be able to do it. I had a chance to coach him some last year and I was impressed. I didn't forget. So, would he make the most of that opportunity? I felt that energy from him. I think it's probably a combination of he's a good teammate as a new guy here, but there's also some appreciation for a story that shows some real resilience and some fight which these guys certainly appreciate."

With Bryant looking to put his past well and truly behind him, it's clear that Quinn knows the trials and tribulations Martavis has gone through, and the fact that he's on an NFL roster (for now) shows incredible resilience, and that is what the Commanders are built on under Quinn.

Washington will trim its roster from 90 to 53 over the coming days. With Bryant's small cameo against the Patriots, we aren't sure if it will be enough for him to stay on the roster, especially with the Commanders having a stacked receiver room.

Related: Should Commanders Sign Journeyman Receiver Robert Woods?

But he's given himself a fighting chance, and for someone who has been fighting for the last few years to get back into the NFL, maybe this is when he finally catches a break.