Browns announce plan to release Josh Gordon

Josh Gordon's tenure with the Cleveland Browns is coming to an end as general manager John Dorsey announced in a statement that the club will release the receiver on Monday.

Dorsey released the following statement:

This afternoon we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we are going to release him on Monday. For the past six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally and wanted the best for him, but unfortunately we’ve reached a point where we feel it’s best to part ways and move forward. We wish Josh well.

Although the Browns never provided an official reason behind Gordon's release, it was reported by The Athletic's Zac Jackson that Gordon was late to the team facility Saturday morning.

If the Browns release Gordon on Monday as stated, he'd become a free agent and wouldn't require to clear waivers.

Gordon was previously ruled out for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints with a hamstring injury. It was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter that Gordon suffered the injury during a promotional shoot, as opposed to practice. Team doctors evaluated Gordon's injury Saturday and were concerned that he was battling substance abuse issues, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

The 27-year-old's lone reception in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers was a 17-yard touchdown catch. Gordon wasn't supposed to start, but he was on the field with the first-team offense due to apparent miscommunication between offensive coordinator Todd Haley and head coach Hue Jackson.

Gordon missed the majority of training camp, taking time to make a concerted effort to improve his mental and physical health.

Selected in the second round of the 2012 Supplemental Draft, Gordon exploded onto the scene during his second year, recording 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns during the 2013 season. Due to various suspensions and injuries, Gordon would never come close to replicating the same form again.