Kansas City Chiefs to Release Former All-Pro Wide Receiver

It looks like wide receiver Josh Gordon may be nearing the end of his controversial career. The Kansas City Chiefs intend to release the pass catcher today, per NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero:

The #Chiefs are releasing WR Josh Gordon, per source.

Gordon has shown great character on the field and in the community since he got to Kansas City and the team is open to him returning. But it’s a numbers game right now and he’s the odd man out. pic.twitter.com/voVS4Hpubo
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2022

Few players have seen the highs and lows in this league that Gordon has. The wide receiver entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft, the highest pick in a supplemental draft since 2003. Gordon exploded onto the scene, hauling in an incredible 2451 receiving yards across his first 30 games, and even led the league in receiving despite missing two games during the 2013 season. But the substance abuse issues that derailed his college career followed him into the pros, and repeated suspensions would continuously thwart his promise.

Gordon remained a tantalizing talent all throughout his troubles, and teams continuously took chances on him. He contributed 720 yards on an impressive 10.6 yards per target during the 11 games he played for the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in 2018, but yet another suspension kept him from participating in their postseason run.

Since that brief comeback, Gordon has toiled in obscurity, making sporadic appearances for the Patriots and Seahawks in 2019 and missing all of the 2020 season. After only catching five passes for 32 yards in his 12 games with last year's Chiefs, it's possible the incredible talent that kept earning him second chances has finally faded.