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Brady HendersonESPN
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse.
The league announced the suspension Monday, one day after Gordon appeared in his fifth game this season with the Seahawks.
This marks Gordon’s sixth suspension since the 2013 season and the fifth for some form of substance abuse, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
“My heart goes out to Josh to have to face this again,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Monday. “The fact that he’s up against it and all, it poses a great challenge to him. Fortunately, he’ll have the benefit of all of the league’s resources to support him and to help him, and we’ll wish him the very best in taking care of business. It was very unfortunate.”
Gordon was aware a suspension could be coming, a source told ESPN.
The Seahawks claimed Gordon last month after the former Pro Bowler was waived by New England. He has seven catches for 139 yards with Seattle, including a 58-yard reception during a 30-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Gordon has been the Seahawks’ third receiver in terms of playing time behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. His suspension leaves the Seahawks with six wide receivers on their active roster. David Moore, Jaron Brown and rookie John Ursua are the others.
Carroll said he saw no signs that Gordon had experienced a relapse. He was complimentary of the receiver’s work and the way Gordon comported himself.
“He was great,” the coach said. “We were not aware that there was anything to be concerned about, other than the history, which we knew about.”
Gordon, 28, missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons as a member of the Cleveland Browns and also was suspended last December for violating terms of his reinstatement, missing the final three games of the season with the New England Patriots.
