Report: Seahawks WR Josh Gordon not eligible to play or practice
Dec 22, 2020, 5:59 PM | Updated: 6:32 pm
WR Josh Gordon reportedly won't play for the Seahawks in Week 16 after all. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks were expecting to get receiver Josh Gordon back for Week 16’s divisional showdown with the Los Angeles Rams, but per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, Gordon may not be able to play after all.
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Gordon, 29, was suspended after Week 15 of last year and re-signed with the Seahawks in free agency, but hasn’t appeared in a game this season. He was recently reinstated by the league and was eligible to return to practice this week and appear in the Week 16 game against the Rams. But that doesn’t appear likely according to Condotta’s report, which states that Gordon hasn’t “satisfied all terms of his conditional reinstatement” and isn’t eligible to practice or play at this time.
Per source, Josh Gordon and the Seahawks were notified today that he has not satisfied all terms of his conditional reinstatement. He may attend team meetings and individual workouts but he is ineligible at this time to participate in practices or games.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 23, 2020
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed Condotta’s report, and said sources told him the reason for Gordon not being allowed to play or practice is that Gordon “had a setback in his battle with substance abuse.”
#Seahawks WR Josh Gordon had a setback in his battle with substance abuse and now won’t be allowed to practice or play indefinitely, per sources. As @bcondotta reported, the NFL informed the team this morning Gordon hadn't complied with terms of his conditional reinstatement.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 23, 2020
Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters Monday that he was excited to see Gordon back at practice this week and the expectation was he’d have a role in the offense come Sunday. Also on Monday, the Seahawks added Gordon to the 53-man roster and waived receiver Penny Hart. Now, it looks like Gordon will not be able to suit up after all, leaving DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, David Moore and rookie Freddie Swain as the lone four receivers on the active roster. Receivers Aaron Fuller, John Ursua and Cody Thompson are all on Seattle’s practice squad.
Gordon joined the Seahawks last year after they claimed him off waivers from the New England Patriots. He appeared in five games before he was suspended and caught seven passes for 139 yards. Gordon was a First-Team All-Pro in 2013 for the Cleveland Browns when he led the league in receiving yards in 14 games. He’s been suspended multiple times for failed drug tests, including last season, and didn’t play in either 2015 or 2016 due to suspensions.
This story will be updated with any relevant information.
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