Wide receiver Josh Gordon is picking up where he left off for the Cleveland Browns in 2013. The only trouble is, his spectacular skills may be relegated to just the practice field this season.
While rookie, and for now, third-string quarterback Johnny Manziel was the center of media attention (again) for their first round of organized team activities, Gordon stole the show early with a dazzling display on Wednesday.
Now here comes the (usual) hurtful part for Browns fans: Gordon may not be able to make one catch when it counts during the season.
He's participating in the Browns' OTAs all week as he awaits suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Gordon is still expected to be hit with the full 16 games. In the absolute best-case scenario, he would still miss six games.
Gordon missed the first two games last season, and still managed to lead the league in receiving yards (1,636). Now consider that was the 10th-highest single-season total in NFL history. He was that good, and with better quarterback play (87 catches on 159 targets) he would have been arguably the best in the NFL last season — even over Calvin Johnson.
Other than Gordon, the Browns have just five wideouts on their current roster who recorded NFL receptions last season: Nate Burleson, Miles Austin, Earl Bennett, Andrew Hawkins and Travis Benjamin. Their combined stats from 2013: 112 catches, 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns. Project Gordon to a full season in '13, and you would have this: 99 receptions, 1,881 yards and 10 TDs. Not far off, is it?
Gordon was a third of Cleveland's passing game in 2014, and the constant who for quarterbacks Brian Hoyer, Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden. Gordon has good hands, but he's most adept at stretching the field with his speed, something that meshes with Manziel's ability to scramble, keep plays alive outside the pocket and take strong deep shots.
Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron, who becomes the top target without Gordon, benefited from Gordon's deep attention and posed an athletic mismatch on underneath routes. He'll find it a lot more difficult as the attention comes to him. Burleson and Hawkins, the best of the remaining wideouts, are best suited for the slot. Austin, with his recent hamstring issues, and Bennett, as a limited possession type, were desperate outside stopgaps after the Gordon news.
The focus of the Browns' offseason will be Manziel vs. Hoyer (sorry, Tyler Thigpen). But as long both quarterbacks get chances to practice with Gordon, it doesn't show the challenge either is in for without him this season.
The Browns at one point found something in their passing game with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow as the 1-2 punch, and it was brought to a much higher level with Gordon and Cameron last season. It's unfortunate that just as they were ready to leap forward, the Browns are about to take a huge step back.
