NFL Spokesman Talks About Possible Josh Gordon Reinstatement

The NFL suspended Josh Gordon indefinitely, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic provided an update on his reinstatement.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady worked out with Gordon, and got people talking about Gordon’s return to the field. A NFL spokesman said there’s still no update on the receiver’s status.

Gordon was suspended at the end of the regular season after he violated the NFL’s PEDs policy. He wasn’t part of the Super Bowl team, and was barred from team activities. Gordon didn’t take part in the mandatory minicamp. However, he signed his tender with New England, and the team can have him back any time now.

“As of this afternoon, an NFL spokesman said the league still does not have an update on the status of Patriots WR Josh Gordon’s indefinite suspension,” Howe reported. “Specifically, I asked if there’s a timeline for a review of the suspension. Pats report for training camp five weeks from today.”

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick couldn’t say anything about Gordon.

“Yeah, I don’t know,” he said of Gordon’s status at the NFL Annual Meeting this offseason. “His status isn’t under our control.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell left the door open for Gordon, but he is more focused on his health.

“Directly I have not spoken to him since his last suspension,” Goodell said leading up to the Super Bowl in Atlanta a few months ago. “I do know he’s in treatment. He’s a young man who has had a lot of challenges. I have gotten to know him and understands his struggles and the challenges that he’s had to go through and he’s working at it. He understands what he has to do. He understand the importance for him — And this is well beyond football. This is for his life. — to make sure he takes care of himself and he understands the importance of getting this issue under control and being able to live a healthy and long life. 

“If he can, we’ll evaluate that at the right time, but right now the focus is what more can we do to help Josh get to that place.”