Ben on Bryant: ‘We need him’

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin suggested Tuesday that Martavis Bryant (neck) will be able to practice this week, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bryant can be a massive weapon for the offense when his game is on, averaging 20.1 yards per catch with six touchdowns in the first seven games he played this season.

As a result, “Big Ben” has called on his wide receiver to improve as the Steelers begin their quest in winning a seventh Super Bowl crown.

“It was good for Ben to challenge me and I’m going to accept it”, he told reporters following practice today.

“If he feels you need to step up your game, it’s his job to call you out”, Bryant said of his quarterback. “I’m happy he did it. He woke me up, and I’m going to get back to work”. I want to challenge him to be the best in the world, and it’s really up to him with what he wants to do with that challenge. He recorded 10 catches for 87 yards in the team’s Week 15 win over the Broncos but has only two receptions for 6 yards since. “We’re excited about preparing this week with Martavis and everyone else”, said Tomlin. “I love that guy like a little brother”. “You’ve got to get tough and you’ve got to make tough plays and you’ve got to make tough catches and you have to find ways to do everything you can to help this team”.

“But I love to challenge him”. I just wanted him to know we need him to step up. Does he want to crumble, and wilt, and pout and let that bother him? Despite what the team said after Week 17, Bryant was a full participant in practice and looks ready to go for Saturday night.

In the past two games Bryant has almost been invincible, and there is a clear disconnect between receiver and quarterback.