Gordon will enter rehab before reinstatement
Josh Gordon isn’t going back on the field until he gets a tighter grip on his life.
The suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver, whose talent has been little more than a tease for several years as he battled personal demons, said yesterday he’s entering rehab and putting his promising NFL career on hold.
Gordon was eligible to return from his latest fourgame suspension next week and possibly play against the Patriots Oct. 9, when
Tom Brady will return from his Deflategate ban.
However, the troubled Gordon’s future is again uncertain after he chose to seek professional help.
Gordon released a statement through the Browns, who have stood by him but may need to move on.
“After careful thought and deep consideration I’ve decided that I need to step away from pursuing my return to the Browns and my football career to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility,” he said.
“This is the right decision for me and one that I hope will enable me to gain full control of my life and continue on a path to reach my full potential as a person.”
Gordon has been suspended by the NFL in the past for marijuana and alcohol abuse. The 25-yearold did not indicate why he’s seeking treatment.
No doubt for Wilson
There is zero doubt in Russell Wilson’s mind that he’ll be able to play Sunday against the Jets. Wilson participated fully in practice with the Seahawks for a second consecutive day after suffering a sprained MCL in last Sunday’s win over the 49ers. . . . Ron Rivera says running back Jonathan Stewart will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury when the Panthers visit Atlanta.
Stewart was injured in the team’s Week 2 win against San Francisco and hasn’t practiced since.
Rivera says Stewart will be evaluated on Monday.
Decker sits again
Eric Decker sat out his second straight practice with a shoulder injury, increasing the possibility he could miss the Jets’ game against Seattle.
Decker did not even participate in stretching with the team yesterday, standing on the sideline in street clothes while his teammates practiced.
“It’s a concern,” coach Todd Bowles said of whether it could be a multi-week injury. Decker injured the shoulder against Buffalo on Sept. 15, but it worsened last Sunday during the Jets’ loss at Kansas City. The wide receiver said after the game that the shoulder was sore, but it appears it could be worse than that.
10 more for Gregory
Randy Gregory has been suspended 10 games by the NFL on top of the fourgame ban the Dallas defensive end was already serving for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The announcement was expected after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Gregory had withdrawn his appeal.
Gregory won’t be eligible until Week 16, before Dallas’ Monday night game against Detroit on Dec. 26.
The second-year player from Nebraska slid to the Cowboys at the end of the second round in the 2015 draft after testing positive for marijuana at the NFL combine. According to the labor agreement, four positive marijuana tests can lead to a 10-game suspension.