Josh Gordon suspended indefinitely by the NFL in wake of failed drug test

Josh Gordon was hit with an indefinite suspension by the NFL for breaking the terms of his reinstatement in failing another drug test.

Following up on a story from earlier today, the NFL has issued a statement suspending Josh Gordon from the league indefinitely. Per NFL.com:

"“Effective today, Josh Gordon has been returned to the Reserve/Commissioner Suspended list indefinitely for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement under the Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.”"

It’s a crushing blow for the New England Patriots, who suffered back-to-back losses to the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers that dropped them to 9-5 on the season. As the playoff picture stands currently, the Patriots would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC and would lose out on a first-round bye.

New England has struggled to generate scoring drives consistently this season, failing to eclipse the 30-point threshold in eight of their 14 games so far.

Losing Gordon on the outside not only takes away the team’s leading receiver; it also potentially allows opponents to make the Patriots’ offense one-dimensional. Without a true deep threat that can stretch the field, defensive coordinators can now sell out to stop the run, as well as key in on the short-to-intermediate throws Brady loves to make to Edelman and his running backs.

For Josh Gordon, this setback is just the latest in a long line of run-ins with the league office.

The talented but troubled wide receiver has been suspended numerous times throughout his career for failed drug tests and off-the-field legal incidents. His reinstatement was explicitly conditional on staying clean and clear of distractions such as this latest episode, so it’s not surprising that many believe this could be the final straw for Gordon’s chances of sticking in the NFL.

If indeed it is, today’s news signals a sad and solemn end to a tumultuous career marked by breathtaking highs and frustrating lows.