Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant will finally make his long-awaited return to the gridiron in a Week 9 tilt against the Indianapolis Colts. He paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant by wearing his #8 jersey upon arriving at the venue hours before the game's kickoff, as per NFL Update.

The former Oklahoma State standout was a mainstay on the Dallas Cowboys for eight seasons where he was named to an NFL receiving touchdowns leader award and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2014 along with three Pro Bowl appearances.

He last played in the 2017 NFL season where he made all 16 appearances for the Cowboys and recorded 69 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns. The Dallas-based squad finished with a 9-7 record to miss the playoff proceedings during that season.

He was released by the Cowboys on April 13, 2018, but was eventually picked up by the New Orleans Saints seven months later. He agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million deal to play for the Saints nine weeks into the 2018 NFL season.

Just two days after signing the contract, Bryant tore his Achilles tendon in a team practice which ended his season without making a single appearance for the Saints. Bryant planned to make a comeback in the league for several occasions in the past but no deal ever came to fruition until he was signed by Baltimore to their practice squad in October of 2020.

He was eventually elevated almost a week later and will be serving as another offensive weapon for quarterback Lamar Jackson for the remainder of their 2020 campaign. With a 5-2 record, Bryant will aim to be an integral piece and contribute to the Super Bowl aspirations of the Ravens moving forward.