Hue Jackson defends Josh Gordon, says WR was ‘under the weather’

Josh Gordon was unimpressive on Sunday as the Cleveland Browns inched closer to a winless season, but head coach Hue Jackson says the star receiver had a good reason for not putting forth his best effort.

Gordon refused to speak with reporters after the game, and there were some questions about whether he was dogging it on certain plays. According to Jackson, Gordon was feeling ill.

“I don’t feel like there was a problem with his effort,” Jackson told reporters, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I know he was under the weather. He has the same (bug) I have. He didn’t feel very good, but he was out there giving it everything he has and as much as he could. But I know that he wasn’t feeling that well at the start of the game.”

DeShone Kizer blamed himself for not getting the ball to Gordon, who had just two catches on eight targets. The rookie quarterback downplayed Gordon’s apparent health issues.

“He was a little under the weather, but we’re professionals,” Kizer said. “If we’re going to step out on the field, it’s our job to execute our jobs, and it’s my job to make sure that the ball’s in our best playmakers’ hands whenever we can.”

Gordon has shown flashes of being the same star player that dominated the league years ago, but he’s limping to the finish line like the rest of his teammates. He sounded frustrated after Cleveland’s loss last week and had to clarify that he wasn’t taking shots at Kizer. The end of the season can’t come soon enough for the Browns.