Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger thinks wide receiver Martavis Bryant can have a bright future as part of the team’s offense, but the team may have to decide how much he’ll be able to do in the present before setting their 53-man roster this weekend.
The fourth-round pick isn’t going to be cut, but he could be headed to injured reserve with the designation to return after suffering a shoulder injury in Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Panthers. Bryant was hurt after making a catch on a pass from Landry Jones and did not return to the game.
After the contest, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that Bryant had suffered an AC sprain in his right shoulder. Tomlin added that the significance of the injury was unknown, but it might be tough to keep him on the active roster if it is a multi-week injury to a player who wasn’t expected to play an outsize role on the offense in the immediate future.
Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Lance Moore have roster spots locked down, leaving Justin Brown, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Derek Moye to join Bryant as aspirants for spots lower on the depth chart.