Browns WR Josh Gordon Will Participate In OTAs This Week, Currently Appealing Suspension

Browns HC Mike Pettine told reporters on Monday that WR Josh Gordon will participate in OTAs this week, despite his pending suspension for failing a second drug test, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Gordon and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are currently in the process of appealing his suspension with the league. The NFL has yet to announce how long Gordon’s suspension will be, but previous reports mentioned that he could be suspended anywhere from 8 – 16 games, and could result in an indefinite suspension from the league.

Despite facing a potential season-long suspension, Cleveland Browns owner Josh Haslam recently mentioned that Gordon will be apart of the team “for a long time to come.”

“Josh is learning and growing and improving as a person,” Haslam said, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer. “He’s learning how to work hard. He’s learning how to be a professional. Josh is a smart young man. All of us have made mistakes when we were that age. We’re counting on Josh being a good football player for the Browns for a long time to come.“

Gordon, 23, could end up receiving a reduced suspension after failing his second drug test while in the NFL, but we’ll have to see how the process progresses in the coming months.

Gordon’s positive tests for marijuana that back to his college days at Baylor when he was dismissed from the team after failing two tests. Regardless of his past and recent issues, Haslam stands firm that Gordon will remain apart of the franchise.

“We spend a lot of time with all of our core players and Josh is obviously one of those. We have all spent a lot of time talking to Josh and I’m not going to comment on the situation but I’ll say this, but I’ve been very pleased with his professional growth over the last year and the way he handles himself,” said Haslam.

Gordon, 23, is coming off of a breakout season and is clearly the Browns best offensive weapon. You would have to think the Browns will look to add a receiver in the second-round just to mitigate the loss the Gordon and add another long-term option at receiver.

Last year, Gordon caught 87 receptions for 1,646 yards receiving and scored nine touchdowns for Cleveland.