Patriots’ Josh Gordon Eligible for Regular Season Following Reinstatement

The NFL announced on Friday that wide receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated on a conditional basis. The New England Patriots player is able to rejoin the team on Sunday. As well as that, he is eligible to play during the regular season.

The wide receiver was suspended by the NFL on December 30 after violating his previous reinstatement terms. Gordon tested positive under the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Josh Gordon filed last week for reinstatement.

The sole discretion on the reinstatement status of Gordon was held by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. In the statement the league released on Friday, Goodell said everyone is rooting for Josh to be successful both personally as well as professionally.

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Goodell went on to say that everyone shares that hope and continues to support Gordon as much as possible. However as has been acknowledged by Gordon, ultimately it is up to him.

The NFL’s statement added that due to Gordon not having sufficient practice and conditioning he would not play in the Patriot’s upcoming preseason game next Thursday.

The NFL has suspended Gordon on several occasions for violating drug policies since 2012. He was drafted that year by the Cleveland Browns. Gordon was suspended for all of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

In 2017, Gordon was reinstated and shortly afterward admitted in a GQ magazine interview that he used marijuana or drank prior to games.

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Gordon said during a mini-documentary that was filmed in 2017 that he took Xanax, marijuana, cocaine and other narcotics.

In 11 games the wide receiver played with the Patriots last season, Gordon caught 40 passes for 720 yards and three TDs.

Because of signing a restricted free-agent tender this past April, Gordon is under contract to play for New England this season and will earn a $2.025 million salary.