Josh Gordon Is Back But Will Miss Four Games This NFL Season

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated to play the 2016 season on a conditional basis and will be suspended for the first four games.

Gordon will be allowed to attend the Browns training camp once it has been established that the team will find and provide help for him in Cleveland to stay substance free. He will then be allowed to participate in preseason practices and games.

Sashi Brown, Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Browns, explained how the process is going to work out, according to FOX. “With the league’s decision to afford Josh the opportunity to resume his career, he will be with us for the start of training camp. At that time, we will discuss directly with Josh the direction of our team, our expectations of our players and a plan to support him on and off the field,” Brown said.

During his first four game suspension during the regular season Gordon will be able to attend team meetings and other activities but won’t be allowed to attend practices or games.

Gordon has been banned from at least two games every year the past three seasons for violating of the league’s substance abuse program. He missed two games in 2013, yet still managed to lead the league in receiving with 1,646 yards. In 2014 he only played in five games after being arrested for driving while impaired and was suspended for the entire season and indefinitely in 2015 for violating the NFL Policy and Program For Substances of Abuse.

Gordon petitioned for reinstatement this past April but it was denied for having failed a drug test the month prior, according to ESPN.

Article by Lindsey Horsting