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Bryant reinstated

Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant, suspended all of last season, has been reinstated by the NFL and is eligible to resume workouts and practices with the Steelers.
NFL allows receiver to rejoin Steelers

PITTSBURGH — Martavis Bryant’s yearlong suspension is over.

The NFL conditionally reinstated the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver on Tuesday, clearing the way for the talented but enigmatic Bryant to return to the team to prepare for the 2017 season. The league suspended Bryant in March 2016 for a second violation of its substance abuse policy.

Bryant may work out at the team’s training facility and attend meetings. He won’t be allowed to participate in all preseason activities — including games and practices — until the league has confirmed that Bryant has set up “clinical resources” in Pittsburgh. The league will review Bryant’s progress at the end of the preseason before making a determination on his availability going forward.

“Based on his compliance and engagement with his program and resources, he will be permitted to participate in all regular-season activities beginning in Week 1,” the league said in a statement. “He will be evaluated later in the season for full reinstatement.”

The Steelers selected Bryant in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, and he became one of the league’s top deep threats. Bryant caught 76 passes for 1,314 yards during his first two seasons, even though he was inactive for the first six games of his rookie year and missed more than a month at the start of 2015 while serving a four-game suspension.

Bryant spent a portion of his 2015 suspension in Houston working with former NBA player and noted substance-abuse counselor John Lucas. He was spectacular in his return, including a somersaulting touchdown grab in a wild-card win over Cincinnati and nine receptions for 154 yards in a tight loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Denver.

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