Josh Gordon Expected to Sign With New Team Amid Shocking Reports After Patriots Put Him on IR
By Thomas Carannante
Something is afoot in New England.
First, Michael Bennett pretty much told the Patriots to shove it when he spoke to the media on Wednesday about his suspension. Then star wideout Josh Gordon was placed on injured reserve with a knee issue, effectively ending his season.
Or so we thought...because this report just emerged.
Josh Gordon believes he’s close to returning to play, source says. So his IR designation today means he’s likely done with the #Patriots but could be available for teams as a free agent soon. Very interesting.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 23, 2019
It appears as if there may be other layers to this incident because there's little reason for the Pats to put him on IR if it wasn't entirely necessary. We knew Gordon was banged up, but why in the world would Bill Belichick ditch one of the top talents in the game if he was only expected to miss limited time?
More on WR Josh Gordon: He exacerbated the bone bruises when he went down against the #Giants. It wasn’t a new injury suffered then. The team rested him a week, but he never looked quite right, I’m told. So IR now, he’ll work back to health, then land with a new team.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2019
Instead, the Patriots went out and acquired wideout Mohamed Sanu from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second-round pick, and here we are.
Source says Patriots WR Josh Gordon expects to be medically cleared soon, and that his knee injury is "minor". I was told he ran 22 MPH on the treadmill during a rehab session today.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 23, 2019
Once he's cleared, he hopes to be released off of IR and sign with a new team.
Gordon wasn't exactly performing at an elite level, but he was still producing. Perhaps Belichick figured the veteran was no longer a necessary fit considering the team won the Super Bowl without him last year and managed to dismantle the Jets while he was sidelined (though that isn't saying much).
Or, even worse -- are there underlying personal problems that have yet to surface? We certainly hope not.