Browns’ Gordon ready to practice
Josh Gordon, who squandered millions in potential earnings and derailed a promising career because of substance abuse, will practice with the Browns on Wednesday for the first time in 14 months — a return that once seemed unimaginable.
Gordon was recently reinstated on a conditional basis by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being suspended for the last two seasons. The enigmatic 26-year-old wide receiver has so far fulfilled every requirement placed on him by Goodell, and on Monday Gordon worked with Browns quarterbacks.
Gordon has been suspended for the Browns’ last 43 games and 53 of 58. He was poised to make a comeback last year, but after spending training camp with the Browns and playing in the exhibition season, Gordon checked himself into a rehab facility.
As long as he abides by the league’s guidelines — he’s subject to random drug testing — Gordon will be eligible to play Dec. 3 when the Browns visit the Chargers. Gordon, who led the league with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013, hasn’t played in a regular-season game since Dec. 21, 2014.
The Raiders fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. in a staff shake-up during a disappointing season.
Coach Jack Del Rio called Tuesday’s move a difficult decision and said that assistant head coach for defense John Pagano will take over as coordinator leading into this week’s home game against the Broncos. The Raiders are the first team in modern NFL history to not intercept a pass in the first 10 games and are tied for the fewest takeaways at this point in the season with six.
This marks the second coordinator change the Raiders have made since finishing last season 12-4 to earn the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2002. Del Rio fired offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave last offseason and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Todd Downing.
The Seahawks waived veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney just four games after signing him to help boost their pass rush.
Freeney, 37, recorded three sacks in his first two games, moving into 17th on the all-time list. However, he did not make any tackles in his last two games.
Some owners believe there is a strong possibility they will enact an offseason change to the league’s national anthem policy if the players’ protests during the anthem persist through the end of this season. The change would keep players in the locker room while the song is played. The NFL declined to comment . ... Redskins C Spencer Long needs surgery on a quadriceps tendon and will go on season-ending injured reserve . ... The Falcons waived CB Jalen Collins after his second suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances ended. ... Jaguars WR Allen Hurns missed his fourth consecutive practice with a sprained right ankle and is unlikely to play Sunday . ... The Steelers activated rookie DB Cam Sutton from IR after he spent the last two months recovering from a hamstring injury.