The NFL has reinstated Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. He was initially suspended for all of 2016. Now, he is suspended for only the first four games of the season.
NFL Reinstates Josh Gordon
Gordon will be eligible to return to the NFL on Oct. 9, when the Browns host the New England Patriots. Ironically, Tom Brady‘s four game suspension ends on Oct. 9, as well. Gordon and Brady will return the same day against one another.
The 25-year-old was suspended for the entire year for the second consecutive season after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He was first suspended on Feb. 3, 2015 for a year. Gordon failed a drug test back in March.
Gordon was drafted by the Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft. He made a name for himself his rookie season. He recorded 50 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns. His numbers skyrocketed during the 2013 season. He recorded 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named to the 1st team All-NFL team that season.
In 2014, his numbers dropped drastically. He only caught 24 passes for 303 yards. He only played five games that season, too. If he had played the entire season, he would have averaged 77 receptions for 970 yards and possibly some touchdowns – he didn’t score at all.
Gordon will be joining a team full of rookies and a huge draft bust in quarterback Robert Griffin III. He has always been surrounded by a below-average team, so this team should not be much different. Gordon could even be the centerpiece to the Browns team.
When Gordon returns to the team Week 5, the Browns could have a great wide receiver duo in him and rookie Corey Coleman. Coleman recorded 20 touchdowns in 12 games in his senior season at Baylor University. If he can execute that with the Browns, him and Gordon could possibly make the Browns a better team offensively.
