Report: Patriots Are Releasing Josh Gordon From Injury Reserve

The New England Patriots released wide receiver Josh Gordon from injured reserve as confirmed by several reports Thursday.

Gordon landed on injured reserve last week, but he will now be subject to the waiver wire. If no NFL team claims Gordon within the next 24 hours, he will became an unrestricted free agents.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the roster move.

Waiver wire priority is based on the team’s current record, and the winless Miami Dolphins have “first dibs.”

Gordon played six games for New England this season. He caught 20 passes for 36 yards for 287 yards and one touchdown. His release was actually an expected scenario, and several sources confirmed that the Pats will cut ties with Gordon once his injury healed.

“Yeah, it’s definitely tough,” Julian Edelman said of Gordon’s situation. “I have been in that situation where you’re put on IR. It is terrible for a guy just because you don’t get to play football with the team this year. I feel for him. It’s an unfortunate situation that he had to be put on IR. Now, we’ve got to worry about that guys who are in the room. That is part of football. That is the crappy part about football, that these types of things happen. Being able to compartmentalize and focus about what you have on your plate right now. The task at hand right now is the Cleveland Browns. That is part of this game.

“I wish him the best. I hope all his rehab and everything goes well. I told him if you need anything I am here. Now, I am focusing on the Cleveland Browns.”

“Gordon, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March, has amassed 60 receptions for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns during his Patriots tenure,” Oliver Thomas wrote. “It is a tenure that’s spanned 17 games after he landed by way of the Cleveland Browns in a swap of fifth- and seventh-round selections last September. And it is a tenure that’s been interrupted by an indefinite suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy from the middle of December until the middle of August.”