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Josh Gordon’s return from his fifth NFL suspension has been in the process for several months and reached a crucial stage last week when the wide receiver officially applied for reinstatement.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, a decision on Gordon’s application for reinstatement is expected within 30 days.
Josh Gordon hopes to take his first foray into free agency at age 29. Here’s how he’s approaching his reinstatement, ready for drug tests and a potential meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell. pic.twitter.com/36ZQjgqadB
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 25, 2020
If reinstated, Gordon will still need to serve the remaining two games of a six-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance as well as a masking agent. However once reinstated Gordon, a free agent, will be free to sign with any team and participate in all preseason activities before going on the suspended list ahead of the start of the 2020 regular season.
Gordon and the Seahawks are expected to be interested in a reunion if and when the receiver is reinstated. The timeline on Gordon’s reinstatement comes just days after NFL Network’s Mike Silver reported Seattle has had discussions about Antonio Brown. However, Silver added Brown would draw interest as a late-season addition, after a lengthy (8-10 game) suspension.
If Gordon is able to be reinstated, returns to the Seahawks, and can stay on the field, Seattle may not need to look towards Brown, with a wide receiver corps led by Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Gordon providing Russell Wilson with high-level talents.