On the first day of training camp, already news developments have surfaced for the Cleveland Browns. Josh Gordon, who is trying to make a comeback to being a top wide receiver in the league, released a statement early this morning, stating he will be missing the start of training camp to continue his treatment plan.
Browns’ WR Josh Gordon did not have any slip ups or failed tests, per sources. His leave is a pro-active, defensive gesture to get extra counseling to try to ensure he does not have any of the setbacks that have marked his past. Those who know him say he has “worked his a— off.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 23, 2018
Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver Josh Gordon to Miss Training Camp
Gordon has had a checkered past and has been constantly disciplined for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Many football pundits believed that because of Josh’s personal health struggles, he could never make it back to the NFL.
Gordon took a hard look in the mirror and decided to undergo rehabilitation so he can get better and back to playing the sport he loves. In 2017, he was reinstated back into the league, given a second chance to once again prove he can be a high-quality receiver.
While it may not be ideal to have Josh at training camp, it is the Browns organization that gave him the blessing to continue getting treatment. For a team searching for any positive results this upcoming season, they want Gordon to be ready to go, electing to be a supporting resource for the receiver throughout the treatment process rather than rushing him back to preparation.
“We will continue to support Josh as he receives the care needed to maintain his progress,” Browns general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. “We are going to respect his privacy while he is away from the team.”
Gordon said Monday that he is “doing great” physically and mentally, emphasizing his treatment plan “will help me maintain the progress I’ve made for not only today but for many years to come.”
Gordon has battled adversity his whole football career. He was never selected in the NFL Draft. He had to wait patiently before the Browns drafted him in the supplemental draft because they believed he had the tools to be a star receiver. In 2013, he was an All-Pro selection and led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards.
But personal demons never go away and left unchecked, can ruin a player’s career. Luckily for Gordon, it appears he is taking advantage of the resources that the Browns and NFL have provided him, in the hopes that he can return to that high level of play.
“With the help of the NFL, NFLPA, and the Browns’ organization, I have been able to utilize the resources available to me that will ensure my well-being on and off the field,” stated Gordon. “By continuing to follow the plan set up by our medical director and his team and taking this time before this season starts, we believe it will help me maintain the progress I’ve made for not only today but for many years to come. Thank you all for your patience, love, and support! Go Browns!”
