Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated by the NFL. He’ll reportedly be suspended the first four games, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
#Browns WR Josh Gordon is being reinstated, source said. He’s suspended for the first 4 games.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2016
Some good news for the Browns is the fact that Gordon will be able to sit in team meetings during his suspension.
Josh Gordon will be playing in preseason games, tho he’ll still have to participate in treatment. When he’s suspended, he CAN be in meetings
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2016
The reinstatement is “conditional,” per Rapoport, though Gordon can participate in training camp for the Browns.
Likely, the conditions revolve around Gordon maintaining a drug-free urine test. He’s been suspended by the NFL multiple times for violating the league’s drug policy, the last being an indefinite ban.
The fact that he is still suspended for another four games after missing the entire 2015 season shows just how tenuous Gordon’s reinstatement is at this point. He met with Roger Goodell last week, which signaled the first step of his potential reinstatement.
On a personal level, his ability to stay clean is of vast importance. It’s hard to imagine he’d be given another chance if he fails another drug test.
On a football level, Gordon’s insertion into Cleveland’s offense will be huge. One of the league’s most talented receivers, he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,646) in 2013, catching 87 passes. He also caught nine touchdowns that season.
He’ll join rookie Corey Coleman to give the Browns a nice one-two punch on the outside, should he play in Week 5 when the Browns take on the New England Patriots — the same week in which quarterback Tom Brady will return to action.