Former New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon, shown Dec. 2, 2018, was suspended indefinitely in December 2019 for violating the NFL's policies on substance abuse and performance-enhancing substances. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI |
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Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was recently reinstated from an indefinite suspension, is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
League sources told ESPN, NFL Media and the Kansas City Star that Gordon is visiting the Chiefs on Monday, and he is expected to join the team's practice squad shortly later. According to the outlets, the ex-Pro Bowl wideout will be elevated to the active roster once he's up to speed.
Gordon had multiple teams express interest in signing him, ESPN reported. The receiver's agents, Eric Dounn and Matt Leist from LAA Sports, said Kansas City was an attractive destination for Gordon because of the opportunity to play multiple seasons there.
The NFL has suspended the 30-year-old Gordon several times for violations of its substance abuse and performance-enhancing substances policies. He hasn't played in the league since the 2019 campaign, when he split time between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
Gordon's latest suspension came in December 2019 -- his sixth ban since the 2013 season and his fifth for some form of substance abuse. The Seahawks planned to activate him late last season, but the league rescinded his conditional reinstatement in January after a setback in his battle with substance abuse.
Gordon submitted his reinstatement letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in July, and the NFL Players Association recommended that Goodell reinstate Gordon. According to ESPN, Goodell approved Gordon's application for reinstatement Monday.
The Cleveland Browns selected Gordon in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft out of Baylor. In 63 career games with the Browns, Patriots and Seahawks, he has recorded 247 receptions for 4,252 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Gordon's best season came in 2013, when he caught a career-best 87 passes and led the league with 1,646 receiving yards.