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During Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Josh Gordon will play his first game in the regular season since December. Of course, countless players – including those of the Patriots – return from long absences due to injury. But Gordon's return to the field at Gillette Stadium has been complicated.
During training camp, he returned from an indefinite suspension that has absorbed most of the last four seasons. This suspension is in part the result of his fight against mental health and addiction. Although he has not spoken to the media since his arrival in New England, his teammates and coaches seem satisfied with his presence.
"Yeah, Josh worked hard," said Bill Belichick at a press conference Friday when he was asked if he was excited about Gordon being given the chance to play. "He created an opportunity for himself. But, you know, I'm excited about our entire team. We have a lot of guys – everyone worked hard, a lot. It's time to start playing. It's time to see where we are.
"That's what you put all this time in low season (for). Training camp, OTAs and all the other things that come in – that's the goal: start the regular season games. So I think we're all ready to leave or we'll be Sunday. "
As the NFL reinstated Gordon on August 16, the receiver only played in the fourth game of the qualifying season with rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Gordon looked rusty, but still managed two catches on six targets for 30 yards while getting an interfering call with a defensive pass worth 35 yards, which allowed a Patriots touchdown at the next game. This performance came after a season when he could not be in touch with the team, but he still recorded a private training session with Tom Brady this season.
At the weekly quarterback appearance at WEEI's "Greg Hill Show," Brady explained what was a limited job with Gordon while welcoming newcomers like Demaryius Thomas, the receiver.
"We are not a finished product," Brady told radio on Tuesday. "We will not be like that for a long time. We will try to build each day. Like everything else, the more you do it, the more you are together, the more you can anticipate, the more you can trust each other. That's what we try to do. "
The good news is that Gordon quickly studied the Patriots' offense in 2018. This is not always the case for receiving veterans. This season, receiver Dontrelle Inman, a five-year veteran, was unable to win the first team at training camp and apply for his own release. Receivers Eric Decker, Nate Washington, Reggie Wayne, Chad Ochocinco and many others battled the offensive.
Gordon finished his first season with 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns. His 18 receiving yards – and his great frame at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds – were impressive and could be significant if the Patriots attempt to establish a vertical threat after the retirement of his opponent Rob Gronkowski.
Belichick's controlled optimism is a good sign for Gordon, who is trying to play a bigger role in 2019.
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