Gordon shows worth in practice
Receiver impresses new, old teammates during first workout.
It was Christmas at the BEREA —
Browns’ facility on Thanksgiving Eve.
Josh Gordon, back from his latest drug suspension, participated in a regular season fullsquad practice for the first time since Dec. 26, 2014. That’s a span of 1,084 days.
Looking trim, fit, fast and agile, Gordon went through position drills and then caught passes from the quarterbacks before practice was closed to the media.
He caught short, intermediate and long routes, and missed only one when his cleat slipped on the frozen grass. But he worked through it with receivers coach Al Saunders, and made sharp cuts on all of his subsequent drills.
His fellow receivers, many of whom don’t know him, appear to welcome him back with open arms, and some seemed to be asking for tips even in the early drills.
It wasn’t, however, the first time he has caught passes from DeShone Kizer. That happened on Monday when Gordon was eligible to practice with teammates for the first time.
“It went well,” said Kizer of the Monday session. “He’s a heck of a player, and I’m looking forward to when he’s back out there for us. For now, Josh unfortunately isn’t able to play with us this week. My only priority right now is winning this week. Once he gets back out there, I look forward to watching him play well again.”
Gordon participated in some team drills Wednesday even though he’s not playing this week.
“I wanted to make myself feel happy,” coach Hue Jackson kidded.
“The guy is the ultimate talent,” Kizer said before practice. “We all know it. It’s time for him to step in and play his role on this team.”
Gordon, who’s been suspended for 53 of the last 58 Browns games, won’t be eligible to play Sunday in Cincinnati but can be activated Monday and play the final five games, beginning Dec. 3 in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
But Kizer isn’t thinking that far ahead.
“I’m going to be honest, I’ve been focusing on the receiving corps that we had at the time and doing whatever we can to develop ourselves to have a better passing game so we can try to score more points and win a game,” said Kizer. “Once Josh gets back here, there will be a time and place for me to understand him a little bit more, open up that line of communication a little more.”
On Monday, Jackson made it clear Gordon’s return is the perfect gift for a guy with everything but a victory.
“It’s like Christmas,” Jackson said. “I get to open a new toy. I know what’s in that box, but I just want to see how good it is. It’s exciting that he’ll be back out there.”
Amid reports Gordon was out with Greg Little last Thursday night, Jackson said Gordon has been doing the right things.
“Josh knows that we’re always available to him,” said Jackson. “He’s entitled to be a man and make his decisions and do the right thing. We truly believe and support that he will. He’s done everything we have asked him to do thus far. He’s working extremely hard. He’s excited about being back and having the opportunity.”
Jackson, who slammed the door shut on a Gordon return when he left the team in September and checked himself back into inpatient rehab on the eve of his comeback, is willing to give him another chance. Counting preseason, Wednesday marked the first time he’s practiced with the team since Aug. 31, 2016.
“I know that every chance I get to be with him — he was on our sideline (Sunday), and it was a treat,” he said. “Just dialoging with him and the things he saw. The ways he thinks he can help, to me, that was exciting. He’s doing well, and hopefully, that will continue.”
Left guard Joel Bitonio, who played five games with Gordon at the end of 2014, is thrilled to have him back.
“First and foremost, I’m just happy for him,” Bitonio said Monday. “I think he’s in a good place. You can kind of tell that he’s just mentally refreshed almost. He’s been away from the game and I think it was a little humbling for him, but he’s mentally refreshed and I haven’t worked out with him or anything, but from what I’ve heard from our strength staff, he’s looking in pristine shape and stuff like that.”
Bitonio was eager as Jackson to see Gordon practice on Wednesday.
“Just the dynamic he brings to the team is something that can’t be replaced,” he said.
With the Browns at 0-10 and desperately trying to avoid 0-16, Bitonio believes the 2013 Pro Bowl receiver can provide a muchneeded jolt. The Browns got a similar spark during Sunday’s 19-7 loss to the Jaguars from Corey Coleman, who caught six passes for 80 yards.