Cleveland Browns

Browns leaving the door open for Josh Gordon to return to Cleveland

Published Mar. 29, 2017 3:10 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

The Cleveland Browns sound like they’re still open to the possibility of retaining former Pro Bowl wideout Josh Gordon despite his history of off-field indiscretions.

Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said Tuesday night the franchise isn’t in a position at wideout to “turn down a guy like Josh.” But Brown said Gordon’s return is contingent on the 25-year-old keeping his head on straight.

“Josh, assuming that he’d play at the level we started to see glimpses of last preseason and certainly when he was in the league before, would be a talent I think no team in the NFL would turn down if he got back in,” Brown said during the NFL owners meetings, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “Our decision with Josh is just understanding where he is in his process and being able to add him.

“But we’re not in a position at wide receiver to turn down a guy like Josh if we feel like he’s settled himself. Now, that’s a separate question, but Josh is going to have an opportunity to reapply to the NFL, and at that time, we’ll make a decision when we know what’s going on.”

Gordon has missed 43 of the Browns’ past 48 games due to multiple suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Gordon is hoping the league will rule on his reinstatement by late April or early May.

Gordon, who led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,646 in 2013 despite missing four games due to a suspension, recently posted a shirtless photo of himself, and it appears he’s been hitting the gym while he’s been off the field.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSJZvvkgorg/?taken-by=flash

Last season, head coach Hue Jackson told reporters the team planned to “close that chapter” regarding Gordon, but it appears the franchise now isn’t ready to go that far.