N'Keal Harry Took Josh Gordon's Number But Then the Patriots Made Him Change it
By Sean Facey
The Patriots seem to be playing a bit of a numbers game at training camp.
New England initially gave rookie wide receiver N'Keal Harry No. 10, most recently worn by the suspended Josh Gordon. And now?
Patriots assign rookie jersey numbers; N’Keal Harry gets Josh Gordon’s https://t.co/TvICWbaIlQ
— The Patriots Wire (@Patriots_Wire) August 8, 2019
The move made it seem more than likely that Josh Gordon, who recently applied for reinstatement into the league, was unlikely to return to New England.
However, in a sudden change of events, the Patriots switched Harry's number back to No. 8, which isn't an eligible number for receivers during the regular season. The other obvious aspect of the switch is that Gordon's number is now available again.
The Patriots website just updated Harry's number to number 8 [which isn't an eligible number for WRs during the regular season].
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 8, 2019
It appears number 10 is still available for now after all. pic.twitter.com/TaYvnSrrtU
Perhaps the Patriots expect Gordon to be successfully reinstated after all.
They certainly wouldn't mind having him out there on the field. In 11 games for the Patriots last year, he hauled in 40 catches for 720 yards and three touchdowns.
Gordon is a total enigma, and his standing with the league is still very much up in the air, but it seems as though the Patriots are banking on him donning their uniform at some point this season. Let's see if it happens.