CLEMSON LIFESTYLE

Martavis Bryant has 15 touchdowns in 23 career regular season games. (USA TODAY sports-Mark Konezny)
Martavis Bryant has 15 touchdowns in 23 career regular season games. (USA TODAY sports-Mark Konezny)

Clemson Pros: Bryant breaks out in Pittsburgh homecoming


by - Staff Writer -

Martavis Bryant called it a “long journey,” but the former Clemson receiver made the most of his first home regular-season game since 2015 on Sunday.

Bryant made up for a slow start in his return from a year-long suspension last week (two catches for 14 yards) with three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown in a 26-9 win over Minnesota on Heinz Field.

The touchdown was a 15th score in 23 career regular-season games and his first touchdown overall since the 2015 AFC Playoffs at Cincinnati.

Bryant says he’s not satisfied, still working his way back to his 2015 form.

“When you score a touchdown, it's always an accomplishment,” Bryant told reporters. “It felt great, but I want more. I'm not just going to settle for one. I've got a long season, so I'm looking for more.”

“I feel like my legs are starting to get back under me. I'm starting to get back into my football shape that I'm used to playing at. As each game comes along, I'm going to get better and better each week. That's all I can ask of myself, to get better as the team is on the rise.”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says Bryant “respects the process” in his comeback.

“The guy has been out of the game for 12 months,” Tomlin said. “Along the way, he's got to give us positive contributions to our effort, and he's done that through two weeks, and we expect him to continue to do that as he rounds his game off into what it's capable of being.”

On the same field Sunday, Clemson products and Vikings defensive backs Mackensie Alexander and Jayron Kearse each registered a tackle.

Brown breaks out in Cards win

Jaron Brown had quite the training camp, but that didn’t translate to production in week one.

Brown was tracked as being on the field for 76 percent of Arizona’s snaps in a 35-23 loss at Detroit, but he didn’t receive a single target.

That turned around to 11 targets and four catches for 73 yards in a 16-13 overtime win over Indianapolis this week.

Fellow former Tiger Andre Ellington had more looks in the passing game as well with five targets and three catches, including a 22-yard connection.

Quick hits: Vic Beasley caused a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a 34-23 win over the Green Bay Packers Sunday night. He left later with a hamstring injury and his status for next week is to be determined. Grady Jarrett is still off the statsheet, but made his presence known versus a green Packers O-line…ICYMI, Deshaun Watson had a strong first start hitting 15-of-24 throws for 125 yards and rushing for 67 yards with one touchdown to grab a road win at Cincinnati last Thursday. DeAndre Hopkins was targeted 13 times for seven catches and 73 yards. Texans defensive tackle D.J. Reader posted a career-high six tackles (five solo) and safety Marcus Gilchrist also added a tackle…Buffalo’s Shaq Lawson impressed in his return to the Carolinas, totaling five tackles (two solo) and a sack in a 9-3 loss to the Panthers…Miami’s Byron Maxwell (four solo tackles) and Andre Branch (two tackles, one solo) helped the Dolphins take a 19-17 win over the LA Chargers in their season debut…In LA Rams-Washington Redskins, Sammy Watkins was held to two catches for 30 yards in a 27-20 loss versus Bashaud Breeland and the Washington, who posted two solo stops. Watkins has been targeted just seven times for 88 yards in two games…Chandler Catanzaro improved to 4-for-4 on the season in field goal attempts, but the Jets lost 45-20 at Oakland. Jets receiver Charone Peake saw his first target and reception (for 3 yards). Jordan Leggett has been on the inactive list for New York’s first two games...Adam Humphries caught two passes for 18 yards in three targets in his season-debut win at Chicago…49ers punter Bradley Pinion was busy with seven punts at 43.9 yards per in a 12-9 loss at Seattle…B.J. Goodson looks to hold on to his league-leading week one tackle totals hosting Detroit for Monday Night Football on ESPN (8:30 ET).

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