Gordon gets another shot at his career
CLEVELAND — Josh Gordon’s curious and complicated career has taken a new turn.
He is getting yet another chance.
The talented but troubled wide receiver has been reinstated on a conditional basis by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who met face to face with Gordon last week and said he believes the 25-year-old can “make the right choices” going forward.
Gordon, who will serve a four-game suspension without pay at the start of the regular season, was suspended last February when he failed an alcohol test after flying to Las Vegas.
Gordon since has passed a series of drug and alcohol tests.
“As we discussed at our ( July 19) meeting, as Commissioner, I want nothing more than to see you turn your circumstances around and succeed,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Gordon. “Countless others including your agent, teammates and coaches, (Browns owner) Mr. ( Jimmy) Haslam and the leadership of the organization, the Program professionals and Jim Brown also have pledged to provide you with every resource at their disposal. But as you acknowledged, ultimately, your future is your responsibility. I have every belief that you can make the right choices, but it will be up to you to do so.”
Gordon, a former standout at Houston Lamar and Baylor, was suspended two games in 2013, 10 games in 2014 and for the entire 2015 season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He was denied reinstatement in April after reports he failed a drug test because of a diluted sample that also tested positive for marijuana. But it wasn’t a high enough level of marijuana to constitute a failed test.
Gordon has caught 161 passes for 2,754 yards and 13 touchdowns in his NFL career.
Jaguars’ Ramsey OK to practice
Jacksonville rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey was cleared to practice and will be on the field when the team opens training camp Thursday.
General manager Dave Caldwell said Ramsey, the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft, will be ready to go less than three months after tearing a meniscus in his right knee.
Offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (knee) also is expected to practice for the first time since tearing ligaments in his left knee last season. Beachum signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Jaguars after spending the first four years of his career in Pittsburgh.
WR Jennings says he’s retiring
Wide receiver Greg Jennings is retiring after a decade in the NFL.
Jennings, in a video posted on social media, said, “football is over. I’m done.”
Jennings, 32, finishes his career with 571 catches for 8,291 yards and 64 touchdowns.
He spent last season with Miami, making 19 catches for 208 yards and a score, playing in all 16 games.
Jennings also spent two seasons with Minnesota but is best known for his seven years with Green Bay.
Packers’ Nelson will not practice
Wide receiver Jordy Nelson will not practice when Green Bay begins its training camp Tuesday. Nelson was placed on the physically unable to perform list. He is coming back from a torn right anterior cruciate ligament that kept him out for the 2015 season.
The Packers have said they might be cautious with Nelson as he comes back from injury.
Odds and ends
Detroit placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on the active-physically unable to perform list. The Lions also put wide receiver Corey Fuller and tackle Corey Robinson on the PUP list. Pettigrew, who is entering his eighth season in Detroit, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament late last year and finished the season with only seven catches. Pettigrew caught 83 passes for the Lions in 2011, but the former first-round draft pick has only 17 catches over the past two seasons. … Offensive tackle Anthony Davis said he plans to return to the NFL after announcing his retirement a little more than a year ago. Davis said on Twitter that he sent his reinstatement letter to the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers. He announced his retirement at age 25 in June 2015 after a head injury but left open the possibility of a comeback after sitting out a year to get healthy. Davis was the 11th overall pick by San Francisco in the 2010 draft. … Washington released Kyshoen Jarrett after the safety failed his physical before training camp. Jarrett suffered nerve damage to a shoulder in the regularseason finale against Dallas. Jarrett appeared in all 16 regular-season games in his rookie year and started six.