Gordon banned again for PEDs, substance abuse
Ryan Clark reacts to Josh Gordon being suspended indefinitely for PED and substance abuse violation. (0:47)
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse.
The league announced the suspension Monday, one day after Gordon appeared in his fifth game this season with the Seahawks. This marks his sixth suspension since the 2013 season and the fifth for some form of substance abuse, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
The Seahawks were told of Gordon’s suspension Monday.
“Our heart goes out to Josh to have to face this again,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday. “The fact that he’s up against it and all, it poses a great challenge to him. Fortunately, he’ll have the benefit of all of the league’s resources to support him and to help him, and we’ll wish him the very best in taking care of business. It was very unfortunate.”
2013: Led NFL in receiving yards (played 14 games)
2014: Missed 11 games due to 2 suspensions
2015-16: Did not play due to violations of league’s substance abuse policy
2017: Reinstated by NFL on Nov. 1 (played 5 games for Browns)
July 2018: Announced he was missing 1st part of Browns training camp for mental health reasons; returned Aug. 18
Sept. 2018: Traded to Patriots
Dec. 2018: Suspended indefinitely by NFL for violating terms of reinstatement under NFL’s substance abuse policy
March 12: Patriots place 2nd-round tender on Gordon
Aug. 16: Reinstated by the NFL
Oct. 23: Placed on IR due to knee injury
Nov. 1: Claimed off waivers by Seahawks a day after being released by Patriots
Monday: Suspended indefinitely for violating NFL policy for PEDs and substance abuse
—ESPN Stats & Information
Gordon was aware a suspension could be coming, a source told ESPN.
The Seahawks claimed the one-time Pro Bowler last month after he was released off injured reserve by New England. He had seven catches for 139 yards with Seattle, including a 58-yard reception during a 30-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Gordon also threw an interception in that game on an ill-fated trick play.
Carroll said he saw no signs that Gordon, 28, had experienced a relapse.
“We saw Josh really at a really high level the whole time he was here,” Carroll said. “The work ethic he brought was one, but his getting along with people and being good to work with and to talk to and all that and to deal with on a regular basis, really, he was great. So we were not aware that there was anything to be concerned about, other than the history, which we knew about.”
While suspended, Gordon is not allowed at the Seahawks’ facility, nor is he allowed to be in communication with the club.
“I feel for him in that regard because he was in a really close-knit group here and fit in and did really well,” Carroll said. “Josh has been through this before, unfortunately, and I know just from talking with him in the time he was with us that he does understand where the help comes from and the support that’s out there, and he does utilize the resources that the league offer. So I just wish him the best and hope he can do well.”
Asked if whatever led to Gordon’s latest violations occurred during his time with the Seahawks, Carroll noted the team is not permitted to discuss such specifics. He said he wasn’t told of the substance in question.
Gordon had been the Seahawks’ third receiver in terms of playing time behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Four of his seven catches came on third down, and his 58-yarder Sunday set up a touchdown.
When asked about Gordon’s suspension being a blow to Seattle’s offense, Carroll said: “I don’t even look at it like that. He had impact to some extent in it seemed like every game. But this isn’t about that. This is about Josh getting well and taking care of business.”
Gordon’s suspension leaves six wide receivers on Seattle’s active roster. Malik Turner, David Moore, Jaron Brown and John Ursua are the others in addition to Lockett and Metcalf. Ursua, a rookie seventh-round pick, has been a healthy scratch in all but two games this season and has yet to record his first catch.
“We had seven receivers active in this game this week, so we’ve got guys we really like,” Carroll said. “That’s why it was kind of hard to feature anybody. Tyler’s the guy that really gets the features when it seems to work out that way, when he’s well. So I don’t think this really is going to affect us in a tremendous way. I think our guys can play. All of our guys can play. … We’re in good shape right now at the position. I love the position group.”
Gordon missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons as a member of the Cleveland Browns and also was suspended last December for violating terms of his reinstatement, missing the final three games of the season with the Patriots.
Gordon made almost $715,000 during his six weeks with the Seahawks. That’s the prorated amount of his $2.025 million salary as a restricted free agent.