Seahawks re-sign suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon
The Seattle Seahawks re-signed suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon on Thursday.
Gordon, 29, applied for reinstatement in mid-June after he was suspended indefinitely in December for violations of the league’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse. A source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Gordon’s reinstatement process is going well, so the Seahawks got started Wednesday on a deal to bring him back.
Josh Gordon had only 10 targets in five games with the Seahawks last season, but he made the most of those opportunities, with seven receptions and 19.9 yards per catch.
“Josh’s experience with us was really positive. He worked really hard, studied hard, came through when he had his chances in games, made some incredible plays and left us with a really good impression,” coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ve told you all along that we really liked the experience we had, and we were hoping that all along, if there was a chance to get him back, we would want to get him back. So we’ll just have to wait and see when, but we’re happy to have the opportunity to bring him to our club.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell has been overseeing Gordon’s reinstatement attempt. Gordon’s camp was hoping to have his indefinite suspension lifted before training camp. Sources described Gordon’s reinstatement as “imminent” to Fowler.
“Again, we don’t know exactly how this is gonna roll out, so we thought this was the best time to do it, and we’ll see what happens,” Carroll said. “I don’t know. We’re all kind of just keeping our fingers crossed he gets a chance to play soon.”
Gordon’s deal is for one year, a source told ESPN.
The suspension was Gordon’s sixth since the 2013 season and his fifth for some form of substance abuse, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Gordon’s attorney, Adam Kenner, confirmed to ESPN in June that Gordon’s latest suspension was the result of a setback he experienced after the death of his brother last fall. Gordon tweeted about losing his older brother on Nov. 11, the day he made his Seahawks debut.
Sources close to Gordon have told ESPN that he was hoping for another shot with the Seahawks. He’s fond of quarterback Russell Wilson, the organization and the Seattle area, where he continued to live and train during his suspension.
Gordon caught seven passes for 139 yards in five games last season with the Seahawks, who claimed the one-time Pro Bowler after he was released off injured reserve by the New England Patriots in November.
Carroll reiterated what he said in early August: that the team was “very open” to a reunion with Gordon while acknowledging interest in another suspended wide receiver, Antonio Brown. The Seahawks liked the way Gordon conducted himself in their building last season, and their coaching staff trusts him, two factors that made Gordon a more likely addition than Brown.
“He’s had issues, but he has been a terrific young man in all of our exchanges,” Carroll said. “I’m really pleased to have a chance to give him an opportunity again.”
The Seahawks recently re-signed Paul Richardson amid injuries to their receiver corps. Phillip Dorsett (foot), John Ursua (hamstring) and Cody Thompson were all sidelined but have since returned.
Gordon will join the competition with Dorsett, David Moore and Richardson to be the team’s third receiver behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.
Gordon missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons as a member of the Cleveland Browns and was suspended in December 2018 for violating terms of his reinstatement, which led to his missing the final three games of the season with the Patriots.
He was suspended for the first two games of the 2013 season but still caught 87 passes for nine touchdowns and a league-leading 1,646 yards and was named to the All-Pro team.
Gordon has played just 63 games since he was chosen by the Browns in the 2012 supplemental draft. Overall, he has caught 247 passes for 4,252 yards — an average of 17.2 yards per catch — and 20 touchdowns.
The Seahawks on Thursday also signed defensive end Damontre’ Moore. Moore, 27, has played for six teams in seven NFL seasons, including a four-game stint with Seattle in 2016. He has 10 career sacks.
Rookie wide receiver Seth Dawkins and defensive end Pita Taumoepenu were waived Thursday in corresponding moves.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.