Josh Gordon suspension upheld: Eligible to apply for reinstatement after 2014 season

Josh Gordon's year-long suspension was upheld by an NFL hearing officer Wednesday, but it appears the receiver may not be forced to spend a full 365 days away from the Cleveland Browns.

Gordon won't play in the NFL in 2014, that much we know for sure. But Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports Gordon will be eligible to return to the league before he's served the full term of his suspension.

Specifically, Gordon will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after the conclusion of the 2014 season. As Florio notes, this runs counter to the language of the NFL's drugs policy, which stipulates Gordon must receive a mandatory one-year banishment from the league. 

This isn't much of a silver lining for the Browns or the team's fans, but it's something. Gordon would be hard-pressed to make an impact on the field in 2015 if he were to be held out of training camp until late August. Now, assuming he stays clean, he could re-join his teammates in time for offseason practices.