NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has conditionally reinstated Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Gordon on Friday that on Sunday, Gordon can rejoin the team for meetings and conditioning and individual workouts. After that, according to a league statement, "Subject to appropriate progress on clinical care and other arrangements, he will be permitted to participate in team activities, including practice."
But Gordon is barred from next Thursday's game because of a lack of sufficient conditioning and practice time.
Gordon had been suspended indefinitely since December 2018 for violations of the league's substance abuse policy.
New England has been struck by a series of injuries at the position this preseason. But there are no guarantees Gordon can help the team given his history of suspensions.
Gordon was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft. He was suspended for a total of 56 games in his seven seasons with the Browns, 55 of which were league bans for positive drug and alcohol tests.
During his tenure with the Browns, Gordon converted 180 catches into 3,106 yards and 16 touchdowns. A Pro Bowl player in 2013, Gordon set a franchise record with an NFL-best 1,646 yards on 87 receptions with nine of those catches going for touchdowns despite missing the first two games of the season because of a suspension.
The Browns finally reached a breaking point with Gordon just before a flight to New Orleans ahead of their 21-18 loss to the Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16 of last season.
After landing in New Orleans, the Browns announced their intentions to release Gordon, but instead of giving him his walking papers, the team sent the one-time All-Pro/Pro Bowl pass catcher to the Patriots.
In exchange for Gordon, Browns general manager John Dorsey got back a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
