Josh Gordon reinstated conditionally, suspended 4 games
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will be reinstated and is eligible to play in 2016 after he serves a four-game suspension to start the season, the NFL announced Monday.
It's a conditional reinstatement, which means Gordon will be eligible to participate in training camp and team meetings but must continue his off-field addiction treatment plan.
In a letter to Gordon, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote:
As we discussed at our (July 19) meeting, as Commissioner, I want nothing more than to see you turn your circumstances around and succeed. Countless others including your agent, teammates and coaches, Mr. Haslam and the leadership of the organization, the Program professionals and Jim Brown also have pledged to provide you with every resource at their disposal. But as you acknowledged, ultimately, your future is your responsibility. I have every belief that you can make the right choices, but it will be up to you to do so.
Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown released a statement declaring that Gordon will be with the team for the start of training camp.
With the league's decision to afford Josh the opportunity to resume his career, he will be with us for the start of training camp. At that time, we will discuss directly with Josh the direction of our team, our expectations of our players, and a plan to support him on and off the field.
Gordon hasn't played a snap since 2014, when a suspension limited him to five games. The year prior, he led the NFL with 1,646 yards receiving.
Brown missed the entire 2015 season because of repeated substance abuse violations and was denied reinstatement earlier this offseason. At the time, the NFL gave Gordon a chance to apply for reinstatement again this summer.
Gordon released his own statement Monday evening via Twitter:
I'm blessed and grateful to be granted this opportunity. I can’t wait to get back out there and play the game I love in front of the great fans of Cleveland. I want to thank the NFLPA, Commissioner Goodell, the Haslam family and Browns organization, my agent Drew Rosenhaus, as well as my mentors for their continuous support along the way. I've heard only good things from my teammates about the positive direction the organization is heading and I want to do everything I can to be there to help further that process not only for the team but to better myself as well. Thank you.
The Browns host the New England Patriots in Week 5, which means both Gordon and Tom Brady are slated to make their 2016 debuts that weekend.