NFL news relating to former star wide receiver Josh Gordon and his return to the league after multiple bouts with substance abuse seemed to be good, but his career may be all but over now.
Gordon was conditionally reinstated from an indefinite suspension earlier in December. The former NFL leading receiver was also on track to play for the Seattle Seahawks against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16. That opportunity abruptly evaporated, as Gordon’s off-field demons continued, and now, he may never return to the gridiron.
Related: NFL Week 16 schedule, predictions
NFL news: Josh Gordon suspended indefinitely from the NFL
Updated: Friday, Jan. 15 at 5 PM ET
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Gordon saw his conditional reinstatement rescinded on Friday, and he’ll now likely be out for at least the beginning of the 2021 season, if not longer.
Gordon wound up missing the entire 2020 campaign due to his off-field issues. He’s only going to turn 30 in April and doesn’t have the wear and tear on his body that many active players his age do. Plus, Gordon is an absolutely incredible athlete at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, with a massive catch radius and incredible speed.
Unfortunately, it looks like a consistent, productive football career just isn’t in the cards for Gordon. The 2013 first-team All-Pro has shown he can be the best at his position in the NFL when he’s committed to the game. It just doesn’t seem like he can shake the substance abuse problems that have followed him since college.
Barring a really incredible life turnaround, Gordon isn’t going to get another shot to extend his NFL career in Seattle or anywhere else — even with the supreme talent he possesses.
NFL news: Seahawks’ Josh Gordon has substance abuse setback, return in question
“Josh Gordon had a setback in his battle with substance abuse and now won’t be allowed to practice or play indefinitely. NFL informed the team this morning Gordon hadn’t complied with terms of his conditional reinstatement,” NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported.
On a micro level, this is just devastating news for Josh Gordon as he continues to battle these substance abuse demons. It’s not yet known exactly what happened behind the scenes. But this is not good news. It also continues years of prolonged issues and suspensions from the NFL.
NFL news: Josh Gordon and his history with suspensions
- 2013: Suspended two games
- 2014: Suspended 10 games
- 2015: Suspended entire season
- 2016: Suspended four games
- 2017: Suspended first 11 games
- 2018: Suspended indefinitely
- 2019: Suspended indefinitely
One now has to wonder whether Gordon is out of lives in the NFL. The league has done everything possible to help him with these off-field issues. But one man can only be given so many chances.
Gordon, 29, was a supplemental second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns back in 2012 after some major off-field issues with Baylor. He ultimately led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards as a sophomore the following season before these demons caught up to him. Josh Gordon has played in a total of 33 games since the end of the 2013 season and has not suited up in over a calendar year.
Related: If you’re a fan of the Seahawks, check out #Seahawks rumors, rankings, and news here.
As for the Seattle Seahawks, it’s not like the first-place team was relying on Gordon to do much over the final two regular-season games. However, this NFL news could impact Pete Carroll and Co. once the playoffs come calling. A combination of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Gordon would have been hard for opposing teams to scheme against.
Obviously, that’s no longer going to be the case.
We’re hoping for the best for Gordon. It’s now time for him to once again get his house in order off the field before thinking of a return to the NFL.