Browns’ Josh Gordon reinstated by NFL

Browns wideout Josh Gordon will be conditionally reinstated by the NFL after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell last week, and begin the season by serving a four-game suspension.

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Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will be conditionally reinstated by the NFL after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell last week, and he will begin the season by serving a four-game suspension, the league announced on Monday.

Gordon, 25, has not played since December 2014 after a failed drug test. In April, the NFL denied his application for reinstatement after a second failed test.

“I'm blessed and grateful to be granted this opportunity. I can’t wait to get back out there and play the game I love in front of the great fans of Cleveland,” Gordon said in a statement. “I want to thank the NFLPA, Commissioner Goodell, the Haslam family and Browns organization, my agent Drew Rosenhaus, as well as my mentors for their continuous support along the way. I've heard only good things from my teammates about the positive direction the organization is heading and I want to do everything I can to be there to help further that process not only for the team but to better myself as well. Thank you.”

In a letter to Gordon, Goodell said that he “wanted nothing more than to see [Gordon] turn [his] circumstances around and succeed.”

Here is what @nflcommish wrote to #Browns WR Josh Gordon upon conditionally reinstating him pic.twitter.com/QPwbkQo8Eb

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2016

Gordon played just five games in 2014 before his season was cut short due to suspension. He caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns during his breakout 2013 season.