Former Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon stepping away from NFL

Former Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon announced that he will be stepping away from football to focus on his mental health.

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon announced Thursday on his Twitter account that he will be stepping away from the NFL to focus on his mental health.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported after the announcement that the current New England Patriots wide receiver is facing another indefinite suspension after “violating terms of his reinstatement under the substance abuse policy.”

Pelissero’s colleague at NFL Network, Ian Rapoport, added on that Gordon could be on the verge of banishment from the league if he is in fact facing another suspension.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

Gordon started the season with the Browns, including catching a game-tying touchdown in the regular season opener against the Steelers to help send the game into overtime.

But after he showed up late to the Browns facility before the Browns Week 2 game against the New Orleans Saints, the Browns traded him, along with a seventh-round pick, to the Patriots for a 2019 fifth-round pick.

The Browns were criticized for the trade, as many around the league felt that they undersold Gordon and did not get the value they could have. But due to the concerns of Gordon potentially violating the substance abuse policy again, not many teams were willing to take a flyer on the wide receiver.

The Browns organization had stuck with Gordon as he was dealing with his substance abuse issues, even though he was not stepping on the field for them. But after the incident this season, the organization released a statement saying that they have “reached a point where we feel it’s best to part ways and move forward.”

The Browns drafted Gordon with a second-round pick in the 2012 supplemental draft. After having a good rookie season in 2012, the NFL announced he would be suspended for the first two games of the 2013 season.

Despite missing those two games, Gordon led the league in receiving yards in 2013. But after the season, Gordon was arrested and was once again suspended for the 2014 season. He only played five games in 2014.

Gordon would then miss the entire 2015 and 2016 season due to suspension. He would return during the 2017 season, playing in five games. From the outside-looking-in, it appeared that Gordon had his substance abuse problems settled down.

But before the Browns Week 2 game against the Saints, Gordon would show up late to the Browns practice facility after injuring his hamstring at a photo-shoot two days before the game.

In 12 games this season, Gordon has caught 41 passes for 737 receiving yards and four touchdowns.