Pats’ Gordon reinstated; eligible for reg. season
Adam Schefter details Josh Gordon’s reinstatement to NFL that makes him eligible to return for Week 1 of the Patriots’ regular season. (1:27)
The NFL is reinstating New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon on a conditional basis, the league announced in a statement Friday.
Gordon will be able to rejoin the Patriots officially Sunday and is eligible to play in the regular season.
Gordon, who was suspended Dec. 20 for violating the terms of his reinstatement under the league’s substance abuse policy, filed for reinstatement last week.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had sole discretion on Gordon’s status.
“We are all rooting for Josh to succeed, both personally and professionally,” Goodell said in a statement Friday. “Everyone shares in that hope and will continue to support him to every extent possible. But as Josh acknowledged, ultimately his success is up to him.”
Due to not having “sufficient conditioning and practice,” according to the NFL’s statement, Gordon will not play in the team’s next preseason game Thursday.
“For the past eight months, Josh’s situation has been entirely a league matter,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement Saturday. “When Josh returns to our program, we will evaluate the entire situation and do what we feel is best for Josh and the team.”
Gordon has been suspended several times by the NFL for violations of its drug policies since being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2012, and missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio reacts to the league reinstating Josh Gordon and analyzes how the Patriots will handle his reintegration.
After being reinstated in 2017, Gordon revealed in an interview with GQ magazine that he drank or used marijuana before games. “Probably every game of my career,” he said.
Gordon also said in a 2017 mini-documentary on Uninterreupted.com that he took Xanax, cocaine, marijuana and other narcotics.
The 28-year-old played in 11 games for the Patriots during the 2018 regular season, totaling 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns.
Gordon signed his restricted free-agent tender in April, meaning he is under contract with the Patriots for 2019 and scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.025 million.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss and The Associated Press contributed to this report.