NFL clears Gordon’s return to Browns
The NFL has cleared Josh Gordon’s route to the field.
Gordon, whose career has been derailed by drug and alcohol addictions, “can return to all activities, including games,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Saturday.
Gordon is not expected to participate in any drills for a few days but could be practicing early next week.
Coach Hue Jackson hopes the 27-year-old receiver can play in this week’s exhibition finale against Detroit and possibly be ready to face Pittsburgh in the Sept. 9 opener.
Gordon, however, has been dealing with a tight hamstring that he tweaked during conditioning while he was away, the team said.
The Browns said Gordon will speak to the media Monday.
The former Pro Bowler took part in the team’s pre-practice walk-through on the field Saturday after the Browns removed Gordon from the active/nonfootball injury list.
Gordon had been limited to watching from the sideline and working with team trainers since returning on Aug. 24 from a three-week, self-imposed absence.
Gordon left the team before training camp opened to receive treatment as part of his recovery. He has missed most of the past four seasons because of violations of the NFL’s substance abuse program.
Jackson said Friday that Gordon has entered “phase 2” of the plan to have him rejoin team activities. The coach wants to make sure he is physically and men- tally fit to handle his job after playing in just 10 games since 2013.
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Panthers: Cam NewA ton walked into the interview room Friday night sporting a black eye and questioning his own judgment after an unexpected crash landing.
The Panthers’ eighthyear quarterback escaped a potentially serious injury when he scrambled out of the pocket and dove headfirst on a third-and-9 play in the first quarter, only to get upended by New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, causing the 2015 MVP to land on his head.
Newton was forced to leave the game to be evaluated for a concussion, but returned four plays later and helped lead Carolina to a 25-14 win over the Patriots to remain unbeat- en in the preseason.
“I was thinking to myself it’s the preseason, what do I do? What do I do?” Newton said while describing the run. “I was like I want to get a first down, but I want to bring this plane in as smoothly as possible.”
The landing was anything but smooth.
As Newton was contemplating how to avoid contact, Jones hit him low, flipping the quarterback off his legs and sending Newton spiraling into the air.
“There were a lot of malfunctions going on from the cockpit,” Newton said with a laugh. “Buttons were getting stuck.
“It was bad. It was real bad.”
Newton didn’t have a concussion, but said his noticeably swollen left eye was hurting. Newton said he received the black eye from his own helmet when he hit the ground.