The Browns are still the Browns, but Josh Gordon is still Josh Gordon

For the first time since December 2014, Josh Gordon was back in a Cleveland Browns uniform. A lot has changed — the quarterback in Cleveland is now Robert Griffin III, and the head coach is Hue Jackson — but one thing hasn’t: Gordon is still a dynamic wide receiver.

On RG3’s first pass of the night in their preseason matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he hit Gordon for a 44-yard gain:

Gordon, who was reinstated last month following an indefinite suspension, was recently the subject of trade rumors. The Browns, however, aren’t likely to let him go.

As the first half was winding down, the Browns had stumbled to a 27-3 deficit, and they needed something, anything, to give them a little hope.

Again, it was RG3 to his former Baylor teammate, who used his 6’3, 225-pound frame to knock Brent Grimes out of his way:

Two catches, 87 yards, one touchdown — the Browns couldn’t have asked for much more from Gordon in his first game action in more than a year.

Not a lot went right for the Browns in the first half otherwise. RG3 was constantly under pressure, taking a few big hits and getting sacked five times. Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston was lighting up the defense, with 259 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Even the special teams was lousy, surrendering a 73-yard punt return touchdown to Adam Humphries.

But at least Gordon was back, looking like the player who led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards three years ago. Now let’s not remind the Browns that he still has to serve a four-game suspension at the start of the regular season.