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The New England Patriots have placed wide receiver Josh Gordon on IR. He suffered a season-ending knee injury against the New York Giants in Week 6.
Josh Gordon’s season is over. According to ESPN‘s Field Yates, the knee injury that Gordon suffered in the New England Patriots‘ 35-14 win over the New York Giants is a season-ending injury. The Patriots placed him on IR Wednesday afternoon.
The 28-year-old wide receiver is nearly halfway through his second season with the Patriots. Last season, Gordon played in 11 games and finished with 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns. But in December 2018, Gordon stepped away from football to focus on his mental health. He returned in August and played in the first six games of the regular season for New England after being reinstated, totaling 20 receptions for 287 yards and one touchdown.
Gordon has been honest about his mental health issues and struggles with addiction. In 2015, he was suspended for the entire season for violating the league’s drug and alcohol policy. In 2016, he chose to step away from football and entered an in-patient rehabilitation facility. He has played just one 16-game season since he was drafted in 2012.
Gordon joins a growing list of departed or injured wide receivers for the New England Patriots. Earlier this season, they signed Antonio Brown to a one-year contract, but the team released him after allegations of sexual assault arose. Phillip Dorsett is also struggling with a hamstring injury, and Julian Edelman was considered limited in Wednesday’s practice. On Tuesday, the Patriots added Mohamed Sanu to their wide receiver corps following a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, which cost them a second-round draft pick.
The Patriots are 7-0 and will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.