Josh Gordon has not been cleared to return to the NFL, at least for now.
According to ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi, Gordon was recently denied reinstatement by the NFL for the second time since he was suspended indefinitely for repeated violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. The star wide receiver will not be eligible to reapply again until the fall.
It’s unclear how things have been going for Gordon off the field in recent months, but it is worth noting that ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting that Gordon’s agent recently terminated his relationship with the 26-year-old.
I'm told WR Josh Gordon's most recent #NFL agent terminated their relationship "about two weeks ago."
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) May 11, 2017
Gordon has reportedly been represented by three different agents since he entered the NFL in 2012.
Gordon was set to return from a four-game suspension at the start of last season when he checked himself into rehab due to continued struggles with alcohol use. He failed multiple drug tests for marijuana while in college at Baylor, and the issue continued in the NFL, where he has violated the league’s substance abuse policy on multiple occasions. Gordon was arrested in 2014 for driving while impaired and has been suspended more than once. Interestingly enough, he checked himself into a rehab facility the same day he received the results of a paternity test he was nearly arrested over.
The Browns recently hinted that they are willing to give Gordon another chance, but it’s impossible to predict when he might be eligible to return. Even if he stays clean, Gordon is fighting an uphill battle.
