Josh Gordon will be released by Cleveland Browns on Monday

CLEVELAND – Josh Gordon's mandate with the Cleveland Browns is over.

The team announced Saturday night its intention to release former Pro Bowl receiver, whose tremendous talent has been overshadowed by drug addiction that has derailed a promising career.

Surprising news came hours after the Browns said Gordon would miss Sunday's game in New Orleans with a thigh injury. Gordon has been suspended by the NFL for most of the last four seasons due to multiple drug violations, and the Browns have backed him for years while he was trying to pull himself together.

Not anymore.

"This afternoon, we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we were going to release him on Monday," said Executive Director John Dorsey in a statement. "Over the last six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally, and they wanted the best for him.Unfortunately, we have reached a point where we think it's best to separate us. " Josh well. "

The Browns did not provide any details behind their decision to separate from Gordon, but a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Gordon had broken the "confidence" of the team then

The source indicated that there were other "mitigating factors" including past and present incidents.

The Browns declared Gordon a hamstring injury earlier in the day and left him in Cleveland before the team headed to New Orleans to face the Saints on Sunday.

Gordon, 27, missed three weeks of training camp this summer for counseling and treatment, and recently said he was well placed mentally and physically.

He participated in last week's opener against Pittsburgh, his first appearance in a Week 1 match since 2012, when he was a rookie.

Gordon was to play a bigger role this week against the Saints after being targeted three times tied against Pittsburgh. He caught a 17-yard pass in the fourth quarter against the Steelers, but was mostly used as a decoy.

Gordon started the game despite coach Hue Jackson saying he would not be on the field for the first time as a punishment for the lack of a camp. Jackson blamed Gordon's appearance in the first play for "error" and "lack of communication."

Jackson declined to give details on the situation this week, saying he and the coaches wanted to "continue."

Gordon became one of the most dynamic players in professional football in 2013, when he led the league with 1,646 yards passing and scored nine touchdowns. Gordon has been suspended for all seasons 2015 and 2016.

He missed the first 11 games last year before coming back for the last five games of Cleveland.

The Browns chose Gordon in the 2012 Supplementary Bill despite his history of drug use at the university.

With Gordon gone, the Browns' passing game will depend more on wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins. Antonio Callaway could also get more looks.