Seahawks WR Josh Gordon Suspended Again, NFL Career May Be Over

Following weeks of uncertainty in regard to his status, the NFL has officially rescinded Seahawks receiver Josh Gordon’s conditional reinstatement and suspended him indefinitely.

This latest development brings a sad ending to a bizarre year for Gordon, who initially was suspended back in December 2019 for violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs policy. Despite remaining suspended into training camp, Seattle re-signed him to a one-year contract in early September believing he would eventually be reinstated.

At one point, it did look like Gordon would have a chance to contribute for the Seahawks. While he wasn’t granted conditional reinstatement until December, he was finally removed from the commissioner’s exempt list on December 21 and he was supposed to be able to start practicing with the team heading into a Week 16 matchup against the Rams.

However, less than 24 hours after Gordon was activated to Seattle’s 53-man roster, the league unexpectedly placed him back on the commissioner’s exempt list. Reports surfaced indicating the veteran had failed to meet all of the conditions of his reinstatement, though details have not been made public and coach Pete Carroll couldn’t provide any new information when reporters pressed him on the subject.

Originally drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Browns, Gordon earned All-Pro honors in 2013, leading the league with 1,646 receiving yards and scoring nine touchdowns. But he played in 10 games combined from 2014 to 2017 due to multiple suspensions, sitting out the 2015 and 2016 seasons entirely.

After playing in five games for Cleveland in 2017, New England traded for Gordon early in the 2018 campaign and he seemed to have a bit of a resurrection playing with Tom Brady. Unfortunately, he was suspended again for violating league protocol in December, ending the season with 737 receiving yards in 12 games.

Last season, after being waived by the Patriots with an injury designation, Gordon was claimed by the Seahawks and played in five games, catching seven passes for 139 yards before being punished by the league again after a Week 15 win over the Panthers.

Now suspended for the sixth time by the NFL, Gordon may finally be out of chances and his central focus should not be on playing football. Set to turn 30 years old in April, it’s highly unlikely the Seahawks will bring him back for a third time and even if they want to, another setback could prevent him being reinstated again.