Josh Gordon may have played his last game in the NFL, as the troubled wide receiver has been suspended indefinitely for violating the league policy on PEDs and substance abuse.
Wide receiver Josh Gordon has battled substance abuse issues throughout his eight-year NFL career. Now, the former All-Pro with the 2013 Cleveland Browns and Super Bowl champion with the 2018 New England Patriots may have played his last game in the NFL.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the “NFL has suspended Josh Gordon indefinitely for violating the league’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse.” Gordon hasn’t played in all 16 regular-season games since his rookie year out of Baylor. He had been suspended by the league for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy for 2015 and 2016.
After being out of the league for two years, Gordon returned to the 2017 Browns, but only played in six games with them over the next two years. Gordon would play 11 games with the Patriots last year and then six this year before being released. He has spent his last five NFL games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
Throughout his troubled NFL career, Gordon has played in only 63 games out of a possible eight seasons. But when he’s been on the field, he’s been a productive player. He has 247 career receptions for 4,252 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging a strong 67.5 yards per game played. It’s a shame that substance issues have meant he can’t stay on the field, because this guy was and is an unbelievable talent.
His last game with the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon in Week 15 included a 58-yard catch in Seattle’s road victory over the Carolina Panthers. He was starting to build up a decent rapport with quarterback Russell Wilson during his time in the Pacific Northwest with seven catches for 139 yards. Sure, most of them came on that one play, but that’s the type of talent Gordon has always had.
Sadly, at 28-years-old, this might be the end of the line for Gordon in the NFL. He just can’t be trusted to stay available and be a productive wide receiver in an NFL receiving corps anymore. For a guy who led the league with 1,646 receiving yards back in 2013, it’s beyond sad that we’ve even gotten to this point with Gordon. He’s run out of chances and this may be it for him professionally.