National Football League

Josh Gordon officially reinstated by NFL, suspension cut to 10 games

Published Sep. 19, 2014 3:28 p.m. ET

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BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Josh Gordon has been cleared to run a route back to the Browns this season.

Cleveland's star wide receiver was reinstated into the NFL and had his one-year suspension reduced to 10 games after the league announced changes to its drug policy on Friday.

The league and Players' Association reached agreement on revisions to the substance-abuse program two days after announcing changes on performance-enhancing drugs.

Gordon, who has at least four drug violations, has already served two games of the suspension. He will be eligible to play Nov. 23 when the Browns visit Atlanta and could be back for Cleveland's final six games.

Gordon's complicated saga has hung over the Browns for months, and there finally seems to be some closure. Gordon had the appeal of a season-long ban upheld on Aug. 22 by an arbitrator.

Under the new provisions, Gordon will be allowed to work out and attend team meetings at the Browns' facility. Before the changes, Gordon was only permitted to meet with his clinician at the team's headquarters.

On Tuesday, Gordon pleaded guilty to a DWI charge in Raleigh, North Carolina, allowing him to avoid an additional two-game suspension under the new policies. He was scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 18, but his attorneys wanted the case resolved to get him back on the field more quickly.

During his suspension, Gordon has been working for a local car dealership.

Despite being suspended for two games last season, Gordon led the league with 1,646 yards receiving. He became the first player in league history to record consecutive 200-yard games.

While the Browns could have him back for the home stretch of the season, his teammates are more excited about having Gordon, the person, around.

"That's great for him," safety Donte Whitner said. "That's great for anybody that's suspended and can't be around their second family, and you can't go to your second home. Now, he'll be able to come here, be able to condition here. He'll be able to lift here. He'll be able to eat here.

"He'll be able to watch film, so that when he's ready to step back on the field, he doesn't miss a step."