The Cleveland Browns are 0-2 this season after losing to the Miami Dolphins and the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens and with a road game against the Minnesota Vikings next on the schedule, the team is thrilled to get wide receiver Josh Gordon back after a drug suspension.
Gordon was suspended for two games over the summer for violating the substance abuse policy of the league and he also had to give up his pay for two other games after testing positive. Back when Gordon was suspended he released a statement and said that the test was an accident and that he took medicine for a serious strep throat issue that contained codeine, which is banned by the league. Gordon has had issues with drugs in the past after being suspended in college for using marijuana and now he is on track to play for the Browns on Sunday.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Gordon is back with the team, but going ahead in the future he could be facing a year suspension if he violates the league policy again. Gordon was taken out of Baylor in the supplemental draft and if he fails another test, he will have to appeal to Roger Goodell for reinstatement. Now that Gordon is back in the fold, the Browns offense will have its best playmaker on the field and not suspended and it couldn't come any sooner for quarterback Brandon Weeden, who has struggled in two games to start the year.
Last season Gordon was the most targeted receiver for the Browns and he finished the year with 50 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns while averaging a solid 16 yards per catch. Gordon was the only big play threat for the team and head coach Rob Chudzinski loves his speed on the outside and he could be a prime target for Weeden. The Browns have only scored one touchdown on offense through two games and getting Gordon back in the fold could also help open things up for Trent Richardson in the running game after his slow start.
Gordon's drug suspension was not his only off the field troubles of the year, as he also had some legal issues with traffic violations for speeding, as Gordon and Greg Little had to appear in court after getting citations. Reports had Little driving over 100 mph, while Gordon was hit twice for speeding and was driving over 95 mph. Gordon is on thin ice with the team after his suspension and one way he could make up for it is by performing on the field.
The Browns are ranked 22nd in the league in passing and 29th in rushing yards per game this season after two losses without any offensive fireworks and the addition of Gordon could help change that. The team has tough games against the Vikings and Bengals next and will have to play Green Bay and Baltimore in two out of three weeks before heading into their bye.
