Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) runs with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 40-7. Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was back for the first day of the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning program Monday.
In late December, Martin left the team to enter a treatment facility after announcing he violated the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy and would serve a four-game suspension.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Martin was out of rehab “and in a good place.”
Bucs general manager Jason Licht confirmed Martin’s attendance for the voluntary workouts.
“(Coach Dirk Koetter) and I just very recently had a sitdown with him, a conversation with him,” Licht told reporters. “He looks great. He looks, right now, as good as I’ve seen him since I’ve been here from a physical standpoint. Seemed to be in very good spirits. Excited to have him. Excited to see how he does out here in OTAs.”
Martin served one game of his suspension last season and it will carry over to the first three games in 2017.
Licht said the Bucs will continue to evaluate Martin before the NFL Draft later this month.
“Seems like everything, the trajectory is going up,” Licht said of Martin. “We’ve got 10 days here before the draft. Can’t answer all questions in 10 days but, like I said, it’s just good to see him here. It’s good to see that he’s been working his butt off.”
Martin signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract last offseason, with $15 million guaranteed, after finishing second in the NFL in rushing in 2015 with 1,402 yards.
Martin struggled in 2016 with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss six weeks. He finished with just 421 yards in eight games, averaging 2.9 per carry after averaging 4.9 in 2015.
