The Detroit Lions have worked their way to a 3-3 record this season. After a promising start and elite quarterback play from Matthew Stafford, the team has regressed to the mean a bit losing three of their last four games.
In short, the Lions need a win on Sunday to stay within shouting distance of the NFC North Division title. This promises to be a tall order as Detroit welcomes the Pittsburgh Steelers to Ford Field,
The 5-2 Steelers lead the AFC North and feature a dynamic offensive attack led by Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Luckily for Detroit, Big Ben will be without one of his main targets, Martavis Bryant, this weekend.
#Steelers suspended WR Martavis Bryant for the Game against the Lions
— James Layton (@RedZoneInsider) October 26, 2017
#Steelers WR Martavis Bryant was told by team brass to expect to be inactive Sunday. Ramon Foster told @JFowlerESPN Bryant was on scout team
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 25, 2017
Bryant will spend some time riding the pine due to his recent social media outbursts. It all started when the Clemson University product got in a verbal rock fight with a fan on social media:
“Bryant refueled trade speculation late Sunday night with an Instagram comment in response to a fan saying rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster is better than him. Bryant said Smith-Schuster is “nowhere near better than me, fool. All they need to do is give me what I want and y’all can have JuJu and whoever else.”
Bryant has tried to mend some fences with teammates after the incident. He gave the following quote to ESPN media members in an attempt to make amends:
“I’m a great teammate. I don’t have beef with nobody in here,” Bryant said. “[I] love everybody in here. I work hard with everybody. I feel bad about the distractions but at the same time what’s done is done. Can’t take it back. All I can do is move on from it.”
The Lions certainly won’t feel sorry for this drama in the Steelers’ locker room. So far this season, Bryant has caught 18 passes, only one of which was for a touchdown. The Detroit defense will gladly accept that charitable donation of not having to cover Bryant on Sunday.
