Cleveland Browns: Is Josh Gordon the number one receiver?
Josh Gordon should be returning to the Cleveland Browns soon and his role is yet to be determined.
As the days pass and more negative news comes out about Johnny Manziel, Josh Gordon has remained out of the news.
He has kept quiet and has done nothing to hurt his chances of returning to the Cleveland Browns for the 2016 season.
It appears as if Gordon will indeed be reinstated, unless Roger Goodell pulls the ultimate villain move to keep the Browns in the basement of the NFL.
But assuming Goodell doesn’t pull a Vince McMahon, Gordon should be back on the active roster soon.
He will join a group of receivers short in stature that lacks a dynamic playmaker like Gordon. Gary Barnidge is the offense’s top threat, but there is still a lack of someone on the outside to challenge opposing defenses.
A running back, Duke Johnson Jr., finished third in receiving yards, behind Barnidge and Travis Benjamin, who provided the only semblance of a deep threat on the offense.
The returning Gordon seems like the savior to this offense at first glance, but fans must remember that he has not played much football since his breakout season in 2013.
He missed all of 2015 and only played in five games during the 2014 season, and when he did play he disrupted an offense that began the season 6-4 at the time of his return.
Brian Hoyer never seemed to be able to form any chemistry with Gordon, making the end of the 2014 season one of the most frustrating in recent memory.
The difference in 2016 will be that he has time to practice with the offense, instead of being put on the field at the end of the season and being expected to be a top producer.
He will have time to work with the quarterback, which appears to be Josh McCown at this point in time, although that may change come the second pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Having a whole year off from football means he will be healthy entering camp and eager to perform at an elite level.
What will take time is earning back the trust of his fellow teammates, and also that of new head coach Hue Jackson. Jackson did not have to deal with Gordon’s previous absences, so it may be a little easier on that end.
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Barring any draft picks at the receiver position, Gordon should emerge from training camp as the number one receiver. This is not to slight Benjamin or the rest of the group, but Gordon is on an entirely skill level. He has been training during his suspension, and should be able to work well with whoever Jackson decides to start at quarterback in 2016.