Superstar wide receiver Josh Gordon was reinstated Monday after a 10-game suspension, and he finds the Cleveland Browns at 6-4 and in the thick of the AFC North race.
No clear expectations for Josh Gordon’s return to the Browns
The wideout returning to the Browns may not be the same one who set the NFL on fire a year ago, at least not off the bat.
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Gordon, who failed his second drug test in May, was originally suspended for the entire 2014 season before the league implemented a new drug policy that reduced the length of suspensions for second-time offenders. Even though he missed two games in 2013 to a separate suspension, Gordon led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards.
Despite their surprising record, the Browns have missed having a dynamic downfield threat like Gordon. In their 23-7 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, quarterback Brian Hoyer only completed 20 of his 50 passes. Hoyer threw the teams's only touchdown to Andrew Hawkins, who has been Cleveland's top receiving threat in Gordon's absence. Though Hawkins possesses strong hands and rarely drops passes, his 5'7 frame and 12.2 career yards per catch don't tax a defense the way Gordon has in the past.
Gordon is glad to be back and ready to pick up where he left off last season:
No place I'd rather be than Cleveland right about now.. #reinstated
— Flash Gordon (@JOSH_GORDONXII) November 17, 2014 Yet that doesn’t mean Gordon can reemerge 10 games into the season and be expected to deliver the same secondary-shredding production of a year ago. Gordon earned All-Pro status while catching passes from three different quarterbacks a year ago, but the receiver had an entire offseason to work his way into form. From the end of August until this week, Gordon has been kept away from his Browns teammates and coaches, placing his readiness and conditioning into question.
Head coach Mike Pettine acknowledged as much Monday:
Browns coach Mike Pettine on Josh Gordon: "Won’t know til the week goes on where he is mentally, where he is physically, how ready he is."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 17, 2014 It’s similarly unknown how much time he devoted to running routes, catching balls and other skills wide receivers work on during team practices. Gordon may require several weeks or more before he can regularly beat coverage again.
That said, Gordon's return still represents a major addition to the Browns' offense. Teammates expect little disruption, with Hawkins calling Gordon, "A great teammate, something a lot of people don't understand," via Pat McManamon of ESPN. Miles Austin added, "I'm excited for us as a team and I’m excited for him."
Gordon will get a chance to shake off the rust and the Browns will look to rebound in Week 12 when they head to Atlanta to face a Falcons secondary that allows a league-worst 281.2 yards per game.
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