The never-ending saga of beleaguered wide receiver Josh Gordon took another turn Wednesday after Gordon was put on injured reserve status, a decision likely ending his tenure with the New England Patriots.
Multiple suspensions and injuries have limited his career. Additionally, Gordon has missed two full seasons and several shortened ones. He’s also faced an indefinite suspension by the NFL this past offseason for violating the terms of his reinstatement under the league’s substance abuse policy.
The suspension announcement came a short time after Gordon revealed he was stepping away from football to focus on his mental health.
Descent into the unknown
This year, Gordon struggled with knee and ankle problems. Once an All-Pro, his career is unfortunately unraveling. When healthy, he has Hall of Fame talent, some of the best this season from the position.
This year, he’s been inconsistent, entering week eight with 20 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown. With Gronk retiring before the season, it appeared Gordon would become the premier receiver of New England’s offense.
Gordon said he believes his injury is minor, and the action taken against him is an excuse for the Patriots to move on. He’s now seeking to be waived and signed with another team.
Even so, the handwriting was on the wall when the Patriots made a trade for Mohamed Sanu from the Atlanta Falcons. Sanu, 30, is in his eighth season and has 33 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown in 2019. The Patriots are undefeated and just got more dangerous.
