Josh Gordon officially signs restricted free-agent tender
Although still serving an indefinite suspension, New England Patriots receiver Josh Gordon signed his restricted free-agent tender on Tuesday.
The New England Patriots approach the 2019 NFL Draft about as threadbare as they’ve ever been at the wide receiver position.
Sure, Super Bowl 53 MVP Julian Edelman is still out there catching passes from future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. But besides Edelman, the Pats have an uninspiring list of names that include Phillip Dorsett, Braxton Berrios, Bruce Ellington, Maurice Harris, and Damoun Patterson at receiver.
Matthew Slater is essential on special teams, but an afterthought as a receiver on offense. Demaryius Thomas, signed off the street a week ago, may or may not still have juice left in the tank after coming off a torn Achilles last season. Cordarrelle Patterson and Chris Hogan both now play for other teams in the NFL.
So where does that leave the Patriots?
On Tuesday, their former No. 1 receiver (albeit briefly last year), Josh Gordon, signed his restricted free-agent tender, according to an ESPN report. Gordon played just 11 games in a Patriots uniform in 2018 before announcing he’d be stepping away from football to focus on his mental health. Hours after the online announcement, news broke that the talented but troubled wideout would once again be facing an indefinite league suspension for violating its substance abuse policy.
Before he left New England for rehab, Gordon was stringing together a fine season as a Patriot. Serving as Tom Brady’s deep threat – and as one of the primary options for the offense during Edelman’s four-game suspension to start the season – Gordon racked up 40 catches for 720 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He figured to play a major role in New England’s annual playoff push – and then feature deep into the postseason – until his demons caught up to him and waylaid his journey once again.
If, however, Gordon can prove that he is once again clean and ready to resume his professional career, and if the NFL is willing to give him yet another chance, then Tuesday’s news means he would return to the Patriots in 2019 as a player under contract, and would earn a base salary of just over $2 million.
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Those are of course a lot of “if’s,” and Gordon’s reinstatement is anything but assured at this point. As we’ve said before, it’s more important at this stage of the 28-year-old’s life to do whatever it takes to get himself healthy, both mentally and physically, than it is for him to get out on the football field again.
Still, it’s encouraging to know that Gordon’s still all-in on suiting up for the Patriots, if and when he gets another chance somewhere down the road.