Gordon finally gets OK to play
Goodell allows WR to rejoin Patriots on conditional basis
The NFL conditionally reinstated Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Gordon on Friday that Gordon can rejoin the team Sunday for meetings and conditioning and individual workouts. After that, according to a league statement, “Subject to appropriate progress on clinical care and other arrangements, he will be permitted to participate in team activities, including practice.”
Gordon is eligible to play in the regular season, but he’s barred from Thursday’s preseason game against the Titans because of a lack of sufficient conditioning and practice time.
The 28-year-old former All-Pro had been suspended indefinitely since December 2018 for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
The Patriots have been struck by a series of injuries at the position this preseason.
Big blow to Chargers defense: The Chargers likely will go into the regular season without one of their top defensive players for the second straight year.
All-Pro safety Derwin James is sidelined due to a foot injury suffered during Thursday’s practice with the Saints. James has a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and was wearing a walking boot Friday.
It’s unclear how much time James will miss since the treatment remains to be determined. Coach Anthony Lynn was hopeful James wouldn’t need surgery, but didn’t rule it out.
Last year, the Chargers were without defensive end Joey Bosa for the first nine games due to turf toe. The Chargers still were 7-2 without Bosa on their way to making the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
James quickly made an impact as a rookie last season. The 17th-overall draft pick led the team in tackles with 105 along with four interceptions, 31⁄ sacks and 13 passes defensed. He had two sacks and an interception in the first three games.
Adrian Phillips will take over at free safety while James is sidelined.
Jets’ Williamson tears ACL: The Jets will be without playmaking linebacker Avery Williamson for the season because of a knee injury.
The AP reported Friday that Williamson tore the ACL in his right knee in the second quarter of the team’s 22-10 preseason win against the Falcons on Thursday night in Atlanta.
An MRI revealed the nature and severity of the injury.
Williamson, one of the key pieces of the Jets defense, still was in the game with 3:52 left in the first half with mostly backups when cornerback Tevaughn Campbell dived for a pass from Matt Ryan to Brian Hill in the end zone and hit into the linebacker’s knee.
Williamson, who was set to start next to C.J. Mosley, led the Jets with 159 total tackles last season after signing as a free agent following four seasons with the Titans. He also had three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery last season.
Backups Neville Hewitt and Anthony Wint likely will see increased snaps.
Rivera reverses course: Panthers coach Ron Rivera decided not to play quarterback Cam Newton, running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end Greg Olsen and linebackers Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson in Friday night’s preseason game against the Bills.
On Wednesday, Rivera said all of his starters would play in the game.
None of the final decisions were injury-related.
Newton hasn’t played in a game since Dec. 17 and underwent offseason surgery on his right shoulder but has been practicing.
Kuechly got dinged up in practice two weeks ago, but has since returned and participated in both joint practices against the Bills earlier this week.