OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Dez Bryant wants to play two more seasons, but apparently it won’t be with the Baltimore Ravens.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday night, the wide receiver explained why he never left a limited role with the Ravens last season.
“I realized that fast Baltimore was not the place for me,” wrote Bryant. “No bad blood. That’s their way of doing things, so you have to respect it.”
Bryant, 32, returned after being out for two seasons and totaled six receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns in six games with Baltimore.
A selection three times from the Pro Bowl during his time with the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant lacked explosiveness with Baltimore and was never consistently opened. He ended up as the No. 4 wide receiver for the league’s worst passing attack, trailing Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin and Willie Snead IV on the depth chart. Bryant managed a total of 129 snaps, or 21.5 per game.
Responding to a fan’s comment that he should have had a better opportunity, Bryant wrote: “It’s difficult. I’ve been gone almost three years. I’ve shown my skills to the point. [Ravens coach John] Harbaugh asked if I was ready to play because he thought I was ready … You have to learn the manual … chemistry with QB has to be on time. “
Asked if his chemistry was bad with quarterback Lamar Jackson, Bryant wrote: “Our chemistry was good on and off the field. But it was the guys there before me who understood the offensive concepts better than me. You can’t put that in risk.”
Bryant became the second Pro Bowl wide receiver to miss two full seasons and return to the NFL since the 1970 merger, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Josh Gordon was the first.
The Ravens trained Bryant for the first time in August, but he left without a contract because he was instructed to improve his conditioning. Baltimore brought him back and hired him for the training team on October 28.
After being removed from the training team twice, Bryant was hired by the 53-man squad on November 28. He never crossed more than 28 yards in one game and was held without picking up the Ravens’ two playoff games.
“I was not concerned about playing time,” wrote Bryant. “I had a great time. I met great teammates, guys that I feel I will keep in touch with for a long time. I am grateful for the opportunity that Baltimore gave me.”
The Ravens were not expected to bring Bryant back. Updating the broad receiver group in free agency and the draft was considered one of Baltimore’s priorities.
Bryant, the 24th overall pick of the 2010 draft, played eight seasons for the Cowboys. In 113 games, he picked up 531 passes for 7,459 yards and a Cowboys record of 73 touchdown catches before his release after the 2017 season.
When asked if he plans to play in 2021, Bryant wrote: “I plan to play another 2 years and that’s it for me.”