The New England Patriots might have wide receiver help on the way. According to Howard Balzer of Balzer Football, wide receiver Josh Gordon has applied for reinstatement. Gordon, of course, is currently facing an indefinite suspension after violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy in the 2018 season.
Heard from league source that Josh Gordon has filed for reinstatement from suspension.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) August 3, 2019
Reports: Josh Gordon Files For Reinstatement
Josh Gordon last played for the Patriots in Week 15’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he was supposed to play a big role in New England’s playoff push, the league issued an indefinite suspension following the matchup. According to various reports, Gordon has a slip-up during New England’s bye week and failed the subsequent drug test. This wasn’t Gordon’s first instance of drug abuse, so the league issued yet another indefinite suspension. However, Gordon has been in rehab and is hopefully back on the straight and narrow.
It’s worth noting that Gordon still needs to wait for the league to approve his request before he’s actually back on the field. As of this posting, the league has not announced a decision.
Gordon initially joined the Patriots early in the 2018 NFL season. After starting the year with the Cleveland Browns, New England acquired his services and a conditional seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick. During his 10 games with the Patriots, Gordon recorded 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns, including Tom Brady’s 500th career touchdown pass.
Gordon initially entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2012 Supplementary Draft. Selected by the Cleveland Browns, Gordon appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, recording 50 receptions for 805 yards and five touchdowns. The Baylor product had to serve a two-game suspension to start 2013 but still managed to have one of the greatest seasons of all-time from a wide receiver. During his 14 games on the field, Gordon recorded 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. His yardage led the league despite missing two games and catching passes from Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer, and Jason Campbell.
Gordon missed portions of 2014 and 2017 as well as the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons to substance abuse issues. However, if he can finally stay clean, he can be a major upgrade to New England’s passing attack.
