Suspended indefinitely

Bryant (knee) has been has been returned to the NFL's Reserve/Commissioner Suspended list indefinitely under the league's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

Analysis: Per the report, Bryant, who already was on IR due to a knee injury, is back on the list after violating the terms of his April 2017 conditional reinstatement. The wideout's contract with the Raiders expires after the current season, with this latest news clouding his playing future, even when he's healthy enough to take the field.

Out for season

The Raiders will place Bryant (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Analysis: Bryant hasn't been able to practice in any capacity since suffering a PCL injury Nov. 11. The Raiders had been hopeful to get him back at some point in December, though IR seemed to be a likely outcome all along. Bryant should have time to regain his health before March, at which point he'll be 27 years old and finally eligible for unrestricted free agency. He was limited to 19 catches in eight games this season while also making some ugly mistakes, but at least bounce back from 2017 in terms…read more

Status still in limbo

Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that he doesn't know when Bryant (knee) will be healthy enough to play, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Bryant has missed three games in a row due to a PCL injury in his left knee. Until he makes an appearance in practice, it'll be difficult to forecast when the wide receiver may start to inch toward a return. In Bryant's absence, Marcell Ateman has stepped into a larger role alongside Jordy Nelson and Seth Roberts.

Won't play Sunday

Bryant (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

Analysis: This is no surprise after the wideout was downgraded to doubtful Saturday, but the fact the Bryant was initially listed as questionable suggests that he has a chance to return to action in Week 14 against the Steelers. On Sunday, the Raiders' receiving corps will be led by Jordy Nelson, Marcell Ateman and Seth Roberts.

Downgraded to doubtful

Bryant (knee) was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's contest against the Chiefs, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: It seemed unlikely Bryant would take the field Sunday given the 26-year-old failed to practice all week, and the downgrade seems to confirm those suspicions. Should Bryant get ruled out, the likes of Seth Roberts and Marcell Ateman will continue to fill in behind Jordy Nelson for a thin Raiders receiving core.

Draws questionable tag for Week 13

Bryant (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The designation comes as a major surprise after Bryant failed to practice in any capacity this week and after offensive coordinator Greg Olson noted Thursday that the wideout wouldn't be available Sunday. It's still more likely than not that Bryant is sidelined for a third straight game, but the fact that he avoided a "doubtful" or "out" tag at least suggests he's progressing from the left knee injury faster than anticipated. Assuming Bryant is in fact inactive this weekend, the Raiders will…read more

Not ruled out for season

While Bryant (knee) won't be available for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, offensive coordinator Greg Olson said he expects the wideout to play again this season, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Analysis: Bryant hasn't resumed practicing since injuring the PCL in his left knee in a Nov. 11 loss to the Chargers, which will result in a third straight absence this weekend. Fortunately for the receiver, it appears his health setback may not be as significant as initially feared, though momentum for a return to action won't come until he's back on the practice field in some capacity. In the meantime, the Raiders will lean on Jordy Nelson, Seth Roberts and Marcell Ateman as their primary options in…read more

Facing multi-game absence

Coach Jon Gruden said Bryant (knee) will be out for at least a couple games and possibly longer, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Gruden seems to be hinting at the possibility of Bryant's PCL injury being of the season-ending variety. As far as the immediate future goes, Oakland may need to rely on Brandon LaFell, Seth Roberts and Marcell Ateman in Sunday's game against the Chargers, as veteran wideout Jordy Nelson (knee) is in danger of joining Bryant on the inactive list. It's possible Bryant has played his last game as a member of the Raiders with his contract set to expire at the end of this season.

Expected to miss games

Bryant (knee) will miss some time with a PCL injury, Matt Schneidman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Analysis: An MRI on Monday confirmed initial fears of a significant PCL injury, ruling Bryant out for Week 11 at the least. It isn't actually a major blow to the Oakland offense, as the mercurial wideout hasn't seen more than three targets in a game since Week 4. With Jordy Nelson also suffering a knee injury Sunday, the Raiders may be left with Brandon LaFell, Seth Roberts and Marcell Ateman as their top options at wide receiver for Week 11 at Arizona.

Injures left PCL, MRI set for Monday

Bryant injured the PCL in his left knee during Sunday's loss to the Chargers and will have an MRI on Monday to determine the ailment's severity, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Bryant's knee issue is something coach Jon Gruden said the Raiders are "really concerned" about. While that casts a cloud over his situation, Monday's testing should produce a more definitive update on his outlook. Prior to exiting Sunday's game, Bryant caught all three of his targets for 17 yards.

Suffers knee injury

Bryant was forced out of Sunday's game against the Chargers with a knee injury.

Analysis: Prior to his exit from the contest, Bryant caught all three of his targets for 17 yards. For now, we'll consider him day-to-day as Week 11's contest against the Cardinals approaches.

Logs three touches in Week 9 loss

Bryant caught both of his targets for 29 yards and rushed for 17 yards on one carry in the Raiders' 34-3 loss to the 49ers on Thursday night.

Analysis: Bryant saw a slight uptick in involvement after barely seeing the field in a Week 8 loss to the Colts, but he remains behind Jordy Nelson, Brandon LaFell and Seth Roberts in the pecking order at wide receiver. Bryant has caught no more than two passes in three consecutive games, so his outlook for Sunday's tilt against the Chargers isn't too positive.

Barely plays in loss

Bryant played seven snaps and didn't draw a target in Sunday's 42-28 loss to the Colts.

Analysis: Bryant was deployed as the No. 4 wide receiver in Oakland's first game without Amari Cooper, logging far fewer snaps than Brandon LaFell (92 percent), Jordy Nelson (90 percent) and Seth Roberts (60 percent). It would make sense for a rebuilding team to eventually give Bryant more opportunities, but we can't count on that happening in Thursday's game against the 49ers.

Slated to start against Colts

Bryant is expected to start at wide receiver across from Jordy Nelson in Week 8 against the Colts following Oakland's Monday trade of Amari Cooper.

Analysis: Bryant's underwhelming 2018 campaign has been marred by drops and a lost fumble, but he'll have additional opportunities to flash his upside moving forward with Cooper leaving town for Dallas. Bryant has yet to catch more than four passes in a single game this season, but his big-play ability led to a 91-yard performance against a respectable Chargers secondary in Week 5. Fortunately for the Raiders' receiving corps, a pair of intriguing matchups against porous pass defenses await with the…read more

Two catches as Raiders drop another

Bryant caught two of three targets for 18 yards during the Raiders' 27-3 defeat at the hands of the Seahawks on Sunday.

Analysis: Bryant is a low-volume asset for Oakland, averaging 4.4 targets per game and only exceeding 55 receiving yards once in five appearances. The clearly gifted, but so far underproducing, Bryant may manufacture some buzz as a midseason fill-in option, with potential for an explosive output against the Colts' No. 28 pass defense in Week 8 after the bye and a matchup with a mostly young and unproven San Francisco secondary in Week 9.

In uniform Sunday

Bryant (illness) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

Analysis: Bryant hasn't found the end zone in his first four games this season, but he has hauled in a combined six passes (on 10 targets) for 142 yards over his last two outings and continues to provide the Raiders with a big-play threat behind starting wideouts Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson.

Added to injury report

Bryant was a late addition to the injury report as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Seahawks due to an illness, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Bryant is coming off his best game of the year, as he hauled in each of his three targets for a team-high 91 yards in a loss to the Chargers. The previous week he dropped what should have been an easy long touchdown, so it was good to see that quarterback Derrick Carr still had trust in him. The severity of his illness is unknown at this time, but it's enough to land him on the injury report. His status for Sunday's matchup with the Seahawks will depend on how he is feeling closer to kickoff.…read more

Gets 91 yards on three catches

Bryant caught each of his three targets for a team-high 91 yards in Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Chargers.

Analysis: Bryant dropped what should've been a long touchdown the previous week and then lost a fumble Sunday. He's shown his big-play ability with impressive marks of 16.8 yards per catch and 11.2 per target, but the continued mistakes are holding him back from a bigger role. Bryant played just 25 percent of the snaps on offense in Sunday's loss, after landing between 40 and 46 percent each of the previous three games. While he probably doesn't represent a solution to the team's larger issues, it would…read more

Drops would-be touchdown in Week 4 win

Bryant hauled in three of seven targets for 51 yards in Sunday's 45-42 overtime win over the Browns.

Analysis: Bryant caught less than half of his targets against Cleveland, but he was especially disappointed after dropping what would have been a wide-open 53-yard touchdown during the second quarter with the Raiders trailing by 10. Quarterback Derek Carr went on to target the crew of Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Jared Cook a combined 33 times as the trio of pass catchers racked up 21 receptions for 186 yards and four scores. Bryant will look to bounce back from his mishap against the Chargers in Week…read more

Held to two receptions in loss

Bryant caught two of five targets for 30 yards and ran for four yards on one carry in Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Dolphins.

Analysis: Bryant has now accounted for 30 receiving yards in each of his first two games with the Raiders, but his six yards per target Week 3 came as a bit of a disappointment while Jordy Nelson exploded for 173 yards and a score on six catches. Bryant will continue to build his rapport with quarterback Derek Carr as the 0-3 Raiders look to add a tally in the win column against the Browns in Week 4.

Debuts with four grabs

Bryant caught all four of his targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 20-19 loss to Denver.

Analysis: Bryant made a 16-yard catch at the start of the second quarter that would end up as his big gain of the day. Still, the four targets were good for a share of second on the team with Jordy Nelson and Jared Cook. The Clemson product likely will depend on long plays in order to make an impact and therefore be a high-risk, high-reward option Week 3 at Miami.

Will play until suspension decision is made

Bryant will be allowed to play for the Raiders until a verdict is rendered regarding his appeal of a year-long suspension from the NFL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Bryant, who re-signed with Oakland on Tuesday after being released at the conclusion of the preseason, is expected to have his appeal heard within the next couple of weeks. Though the track record of players winning their appeals from the league office isn't a promising one, Bryant's camp remains confident in the wideout's chances, which may have influenced the Raiders to bring him back on the 53-man roster. The 26-year-old is expected to make his 2018 debut Sunday in Denver, providing the team…read more

Expected to suit up Week 2

Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said Wednesday that Bryant is healthy and should be ready to play Sunday in Denver, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Gruden declined to comment on rumors of an impending suspension for Bryant, something that likely played a big role in the decision to release the wideout at the end of the preseason. The Raiders re-signed the 26-year-old Tuesday, perhaps hoping he can provide a downfield threat while he gets the potential suspension sorted out with the league. Assuming Gruden elects to make him active in Week 2, Bryant may be limited to a small role as the team's fourth or fifth wideout.

Rejoins Raiders

Bryant signed a one-year contract with the Raiders on Tuesday, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Bryant was initially released by Oakland prior to roster cutdowns, due to concerns about an imminent suspension -- but Bill Williamson of RaidersSnakepit.com reports that "no suspension is official." Bryant is additionally expected to suit up against the Broncos on Sunday, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. It's an unexpected turn of events, but all signs point toward Bryant taking the field alongside Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson during Week 2.

Re-signs with Oakland

Bryant signed a contract with the Raiders on Tuesday, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: It was earlier reported that Bryant was visiting with the Raiders, and it appears that there was little to discuss. The 26-year-old will re-join the team after being released Sept. 1. It's unclear if a one-year suspension for allegedly violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy is still in play. He's expected to play Week 2 against the Broncos, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports. Bryant will add a much-needed deep presence to the Raiders' passing attack.

Could return to Oakland

Bryant is visiting with the Raiders on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Bryant was released by the Raiders earlier this month in the face of a tentative year-long suspension. The 26-year-old wideout had reportedly violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy -- but because a suspension has yet to be handed out, Bryant is currently eligible to return. It's possible that Bryant could offer a spark to Oakland's passing attack, which looked unimpressive in Sunday's season opener aside from tight end Jared Cook's 180-yard performance. Expect an update on Bryant's status as…read more

Facing year-long suspension

Bryant could face a year-long suspension for his latest violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy, a source informed Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Analysis: Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported back in June that Bryant could be subject to league discipline after another violation, a notion that was seemingly validated by the Raiders' decision to cut the wideout at the conclusion of the preseason. Since Bryant has already been suspended on two occasions, another lengthy ban could make it a significant challenge for the 26-year-old to resurface in the NFL again. The league is still reviewing the matter and is expected to…read more

Released by Raiders

Bryant was released by the Raiders on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: With Bryant reportedly facing another suspension for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, the Raiders decided to cut ties four months after they traded a third-round pick to acquire him. It also sounds like the 26-year-old wideout plans to appeal what figures to be an indefinite suspension. The Raiders will move forward with Seth Roberts as their No. 3 wide receiver behind Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson.

In line to be released

The Raiders are planning to release Bryant, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Bryant reportedly has a pending appeal of a drug suspension from the NFL. Given his lengthy history in the league's substance abuse program, any kind of infraction could lead to an indefinite ban. It doesn't help that Bryant struggled throughout training camp and the preseason, with multiple reports suggesting he had a hard time learning Jon Gruden's offense. The Raiders appear to have flushed a third-down pick down the drain with their April trade for the 26-year-old wideout.

Remains quiet in preseason

Bryant caught one of two targets for 14 yards in Friday's preseason game against Green Bay.

Analysis: Both of his targets came in the first quarter, but Bryant stayed in the contest far beyond that, ultimately logging the third-most snaps (28) among Oakland wideouts. Meanwhile, Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson combined for only 11 snaps, both coming out of the game after the opening drive. Bryant likely will open the season as Oakland's No. 3 receiver in a Week 1 game against the Rams.

Not playing Saturday

Bryant won't take the field Saturday versus the Rams, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Bryant was absent from drills most of the last week due to what was termed "really bad migraines," according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic Bay Area. Although he returned to drills Wednesday, Bryant is among a number of Raiders starts to get the day off Saturday. Expect Bryant to earn his busiest preseason run Friday against the Packers as the Raiders ramp up for the regular season.

Returns to practice

Bryant (head) returned to practice Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Analysis: Bryant was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday while dealing with migraines, a condition he has been bothered by for years. He also missed one practice with an unspecified illness early in training camp, but he has otherwise been healthy since joining the Raiders in April. The 26-year-old likely will enter Week 1 as the team's No. 3 receiver, as his issues with learning the Oakland playbook seem to have prevented him from pushing Jordy Nelson for the No. 2 job.

Dealing with migraines

Bryant is dealing with what are being described as "really bad migraines," Vic Tafur of The Athletic Bay Area reports.

Analysis: The wideout has now missed two straight practices with his migraines, which the report relays is a condition that he has contended with for years. For now, consider Bryant day-to-day and not subject to the NFL's concussion protocol.

Absent again

Bryant (illness) isn't practicing Tuesday, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Bryant missed practice Aug. 1 due to an unspecified illness and was held out of Monday's session while dealing with headaches. He's otherwise been healthy since joining the Raiders in April, but the missed time won't help his struggles learning the Oakland playbook. Bryant caught one pass for 18 yards in the preseason opener, and he still has a few days to recover before Saturday's exhibition game against the Rams.

Dealing with headache

Bryant missed Monday's practice due to a headache, Matt Kawahara of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Analysis: It's unclear if this is related to the illness that caused Bryant to miss practice Aug. 1. Whatever the case may be, any missed time is a concern for a player who's reportedly struggling to learn his assignments in a new system. Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Ryan Switzer don't seem to be having the same problem, but they also don't possess Bryant's freakish athleticism. Unless his headache is related to a concussion, Bryant should make it back on the practice field before Saturday's preseason…read more

Not practicing

Bryant (undisclosed) isn't practicing Monday, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Bryant was unavailable Aug. 1 due to an illness but has otherwise been a full practice participant ever since the Raiders traded for him in April. His reported struggles with coach Jon Gruden's verbose playbook have contributed to a disappointing training camp, with the Raiders even moving Ryan Switzer ahead of Bryant for the No. 3 receiver role during some practices. The former Steeler still has time to get up to speed and make the most of his immense talent, but the early struggles make it…read more

Catches one pass in Raiders debut

Bryant made his Raiders debut during Friday's preseason opener against the Lions and caught one pass for 18 yards.

Analysis: While the rumors of him not picking up the Raiders' playbook are yet to be disproven, Bryant still has the blazing speed to take the top off of a defense, which was on full display during the receiver's first and only catch of the day. With that said, at this juncture it appears Bryant may be No. 4 on the depth chart behind Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Ryan Switzer, who has been working the slot lately. There will still be plenty of opportunities for Bryant to work his way back up the depth…read more

Struggling with playbook

Bryant is struggling to grasp the Oakland playbook during training camp, despite being limited to one spot in the offense, according to James Jones of NFL Network.

Analysis: Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is notorious for his complicated play calls, but there haven't been any reports about Amari Cooper nor Jordy Nelson having the same issues as Bryant, whose limitations have freed up some first-team reps for Ryan Switzer, per Gilbert Manzano of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. While his talent has never been questioned, Bryant could be restricted to a part-time role if he isn't comfortable with the Oakland playbook before the start of the regular season. Gruden was…read more

Returns to field

Bryant (illness) returned to practice Thursday, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Though reports surfaced in June suggesting that Bryant may be facing a suspension for an unspecified infraction, there's been no word on that front to date. The 26-year-old will thus look to cement a role in the Raiders offense behind Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson, though even if he ends up being the team's No. 3 wideout option, Bryant's speed and 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame make him an effective big play/deep threat weapon when he's both available and focused.

Misses practice with illness

Bryant was held out of Wednesday's practice while recovering from an illness, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Bryant has otherwise been available throughout the first week of training camp, and he'll likely get back on the practice field within a few days. The extent of his role isn't quite clear after head coach Jon Gruden sent mixed messages with his offseason transactions, adding Bryant and Jordy Nelson to help the passing game but also fullback Keith Smith and tight end Derek Carrier to bolster the rushing attack. While there have been rumors suggesting Bryant could soon face another suspension,…read more

Set to report to camp

As Bryant prepares to report for training camp, there has been no news regarding any potential suspension that he may face, Herbie Teope of NFL.com reports.

Analysis: Reports surfaced in June suggesting that the wideout may be facing a suspension for an unspecified infraction, but so far there's been no word on that front. With the Raiders, Bryant presumably slots in behind both Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson, but when available and focused, the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder can be an effective big play/deep threat weapon.

May be facing another league suspension

The Raiders fear Bryant may be the subject of NFL discipline and are awaiting final word on the situation, which they believe to involve the league's substance-abuse policy, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: It's a somewhat vague notion -- but not surprising, considering Bryant's tumultuous history, which included a disappointing 2017 campaign with the Steelers after missing the 2016 season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. If Bryant, who missed Thursday's final minicamp workout, breaches those rules again (even if it's not necessarily a failed test), he could face a suspension of one year or longer. The raw talent he's flashed in brief stretches has not outweighed the issues his…read more

Traded to Raiders

Bryant has been traded to the Raiders in exchange for Oakland's third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Analysis: Bryant had a tumultuous 2017 with Pittsburgh. He was reinstated last April following an entire missed season due to a suspension stemming from a breach in the league's substance abuse policy. After a middling start to the season in which Bryant saw 10 target's in the Steelers' first four games, the deep-threat receiver requested a trade from the team. No move was made, and while he performed better over the second half of the season, the emergence of rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster made Bryant more…read more

Not being shopped

Bryant is drawing interest from other teams, but Steelers general manage Kevin Colbert said the organization isn't interested in trading the wide receiver, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Analysis: Bryant returned from his lengthy suspension with a tumultuous 2017 campaign, catching 50 of 84 targets for 603 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. His lone absence was a healthy scratch in Week 8 when he missed a team meeting and publicly expressed frustration with his role in the Pittsburgh offense, which led to widespread reports that he was seeking a trade. Bryant did have a 42-yard gain and a 36-yard touchdown in Pittsburgh's lone playoff game, but even then he only finished sixth on…read more

Bryant caught two of his four targets for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 45-42 AFC divisional-round loss to Jacksonville.

Analysis: Bryant didn't see a pass thrown his way until the final seconds of the first half, although it resulted in a 36-yard score. However, he didn't have another target until the final minutes of the game. After sitting out the entire 2016 campaign for substance abuse violations, Bryant returned this season to haul in 50 of his 84 targets for 603 yards and three TDs in 15 contests. The 26-year-old wideout clearly has the talent to produce better numbers than that, but looking ahead, the continued…read more

Bryant, who caught six passes (on seven targets) for 65 yards in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Browns, finishes up the 2017 season with 50 catches (on 84 targets) for 603 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran six times for 22 yards and added 151 yards on nine kick returns in 15 games.

Analysis: This was one of Bryant's better games, as he struggled with consistency all season. The six receptions tied his game-high this season, and the 65 yards was his best effort since Week 2, when he totaled 91 yards. There is no question that Bryant has talent, but he has been vocal about his role in the offense, and with Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster on the roster, that might not change. Bryant is signed until 2019, and most of his annual salary is guaranteed, so he'll likely return next…read more

Bryant caught three of four targets for 60 yards and added an eight-yard rush in Monday's 34-6 win over Houston.

Analysis: Even with Antonio Brown (calf) sidelined, Bryant didn't see nearly as much attention from Ben Roethlisberger as Le'Veon Bell (eight targets) or JuJu Smith-Schuster (seven targets). The mercurial wideout's big-play ability gives him a high ceiling for next week's finale against the mistake-prone Browns, but Bryant's inconsistency also gives him a low floor.

Set for larger role

Bryant will take on an expanded role over the final two weeks of the regular season with Antonio Brown (calf) out of the lineup, ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler reports.

Analysis: Bryant has somewhat quietly accumulated 18 catches on 28 targets over the past four weeks, culminating with a 4-59-1 receiving line in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Patriots. His big afternoon included a diving 39-yard catch and a one-handed touchdown grab, though he only drew three of his six targets after Brown's exit early in the second quarter. Bryant, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eli Rogers all figure to handle key roles over the final two weeks of the season, starting with Monday's prime matchup…read more

Bryant brought in four of six targets for 59 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Patriots.

Analysis: Bryant capped an impressive 15-play, 78-yard drive in the closing seconds of the first half with a four-yard touchdown reception, his second of the season. The third-year wideout has now posted at least four catches in four consecutive weeks, and although his 11.3 YPC is a far cry from the 21.1 and 15.3 figures he'd posted over his first pair of NFL campaigns, Bryant could be the beneficiary of an expanded Week 16 role versus the Texans if Antonio Brown (calf) misses the contest.

Bryant (not injury related) practiced in full Thursday.

Analysis: Bryant will be fine for Sunday's game against the Patriots, though his Week 15 fantasy upside hinges on the status of JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was set to return from a one-game suspension this week, but subsequently added to the Steelers' injury report Thursday after practicing in a limited fashion due to a hamstring injury.

Bryant (not injury-related) did not practice Wednesday.

Analysis: Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Bryant had a personal situation to tend to and will return to the team Thursday. Bryant was on the field for 80 percent of the Steelers' snaps on offense in this past Sunday's 39-38 win over the Ravens, en route to catching six passes (on 10 targets) for 33 yards, though JuJu Smith-Schuster, who's returning from a one-game suspension, could eat into Bryant's workload.

Bryant caught 6-of-10 targets for 33 yards in Pittsburgh's 39-38 win over Baltimore on Sunday.

Analysis: With JuJu Smith-Schuster serving a one-game suspension, Bryant saw more targets than in any game this season, but was unable to do much with them. With Smith-Schuster returning in Week 15, Bryant will likely see his role reduced, making him an unappealing option for fantasy owners.

Bryant caught four of six targets for 40 yards in Pittsburgh's 23-20 win over Cincinnati on Monday.

Analysis: Bryant matched his stat line from Week 12, sans a touchdown, although he did have a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty. With JuJu Smith-Schuster facing a possible suspension for an illegal hit on Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict, Bryant could be in line for a bigger role in Week 14 against Baltimore.

Bryant caught four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 31-28 win over Green Bay Sunday night. He also ran once for one yard.

Analysis: With JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) inactive, Bryant saw his most targets (six) since Week 5, and scored his second touchdown this season. His role in the offense could continue to grow if Smith-Schuster is unable to play against Cincinnati in Week 13 but, even then, he is not someone owners should be counting on with fantasy playoffs on the horizon.

Bryant should see an increased role in the Steelers' passing attack Sunday against the Packers due to the absence of JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring).

Analysis: Smith-Schuster was unable to recover from a "small" hamstring injury, despite the benefit of 10 days between games. In his four starts early in the season, Bryant racked up 10 receptions (on 21 targets) for 81 yards. That said, he's been a bit more efficient over the last two games, reeling in five of nine passes for 72 yards.

Bryant totaled 30 yards on two receptions in Thursday's 40-17 win over the Titans.

Analysis: Bryant got off to another rough start, failing to catch either of his first two targets. He managed to hold on to his two second-half targets, but his best play of the night came when he recovered an Antonio Brown fumble to continue a Pittsburgh drive that led to a Chris Boswell field goal and a 16-7 halftime lead. At this point, dropped passes and inconsistent route running seems to have caused the Steelers to lose confidence in Bryant, making it difficult for fantasy owners to justify…read more

Bryant (illness) does not carry a designation on the Steelers' Week 11 injury report after being listed as a full practice participant Wednesday.

Analysis: Bryant is thus slated to be available for Thursday night's game against the Titans. Due to his potential to make a splash as a vertical threat in the Pittsburgh offense, he's an option in deeper fantasy formats, though at this stage, fellow wideouts Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are high-percentage lineup options. Bryant parlayed 37 (out of a possible 66) snaps in Week 10's win over the Colts into three catches (on five targets) for 42 yards, while adding a two-point conversion.

Tending to another illness

Bryant missed Tuesday's practice due to an illness.

Analysis: In the end, the illness may not impact Bryant's availability for Thursday's game against the Titans, but Chris Adamski of TribLive.com pointed out the wide receiver has been held out of drills four times in the last 49 days with a similar concern. Expect the Steelers to clarify Bryant's status in advance of Thursday's 8:25 p.m. EDT kickoff. It should be noted, though, that Bryant is no better than the fourth-best option in the passing game behind Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Le'Veon…read more

Bryant brought in three of five targets for 42 yards and lost nine yards on his sole rush in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Colts. He also caught a two-point conversion pass.

Analysis: Bryant enjoyed a reasonably productive return to the lineup after last logging a catch in Week 7, posting his best reception total since tallying a season-high five against the Jaguars back in Week 5. The third-year speedster also brought in a key two-point conversion pass following a Vance McDonald touchdown early in the fourth quarter and appeared integrate back into the offense well while playing behind rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster. Bryant will have an opportunity to quickly build on Sunday's…read more

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Bryant will play in Sunday's game against the Colts, hinting that the wideout's return could help the team create more big plays, Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Analysis: Bryant surprisingly hasn't been of much use on that front, with the exception of Week 2 when he had a 51-yard gain and a 27-yard touchdown. JuJu Smith-Schuster is no match for Bryant in terms of pure speed, but the rookie nonetheless made a major statement the past two games with gains of 97, 41 and 31 yards. While Bryant figures to rejoin the offense coming out of a bye week, the two players' respective performances to date suggest Smith-Schuster will operate as Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver.…read more

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Bryant would likely play Sunday against the Colts, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Analysis: Bryant's frustration with the Steelers' organization has been well publicized at this point, but after he remained in Pittsburgh following the trade deadline last week, it appears the receiver has at least temporarily patched things up with Tomlin and the team brass. Tomlin said Bryant did a "nice job" during practices while the team was on bye in Week 9, with the wideout even taking reps with the first-team offense during Monday's session. It's still expected that Bryant will see fewer snaps…read more