Patriots’ Teammates React To Josh Gordon’s Suspension

Josh Gordon did not suit up for practice, and that happened for the first time after he came to Foxboro. Gordon announced his decision to step away from football and improve his mental health. The NFL also suspended the receiver for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. That suspension was the last bullet he received.

“I felt bad for him. The way you guys felt when you read it was how most of us probably felt,” safety and co-captain Devin McCourty said of Gordon and his suspension.

“I think first and foremost, your prayers are with Josh, and your concern is with him and what he’s dealing with, whatever that may be. I think we have a tendency to become so infatuated with what’s going on on the football field as players, as media members, that we lose sight of what’s going on with the man sometimes, and our No. 1 concern is with him as a man. I’m thankful for the approach he took here, how he was as a teammate. I enjoyed getting to know him and that process and will continue to support him any way I can and be praying for him. But I think that is just the No. 1 concern — you want to see him be fine, be OK, and that’s what we’ll be praying for,” Slater said.

“He was a great teammate. He worked his butt off while he was here. So I think for us as players, we wish him the best personally. … I think, as people, you feel for that. I mean, if you don’t, I guess you don’t, but I think as guys in this locker room, we care more about him and him getting well and all of those things more than him catching passes. Play football. Just keep playing. I think we realize the task we have at hand Sunday — a game that we feel is a must-win. We’ve got to come out here, play well at home and get a win coming off back-to-back losses,” McCourty said.

“I wish all the best for Josh. He was a great teammate. But I’m not really going to comment. It’s his situation. I’ll let him speak for himself on that,” Andrews said.

“He was a great teammate, a great guy. So I think you just try to pray about it and just hope for the best for him. This is the National Football League. Everybody’s got to be able to step up when someone goes down and make plays,” Stephon Gilmore added.