Patriots, Goodell lament path of WR Gordon

ATLANTA -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday without the benefit of his most naturally gifted receiver. Josh Gordon, acquired from the Cleveland Browns, caught 40 passes and scored three touchdowns in 11 total games with the team this season before another indefinite suspension for substance abuse violations.

The 27-year-old had missed 43 of a possible 48 games in Cleveland's previous three seasons prior to the start of the 2018 season. Commissioner Roger Goodell has delivered multiple bans to Gordon, but said Wednesday he remains close with the troubled star, propping the door open for reinstatement down the road.

Goodell said he hasn't directly spoken to Gordon because he's in treatment, but plans to reach out. The Patriots, according to NESN, are paying for Gordon's inpatient treatment. "He's working at it. He understands what he has to do," Goodell said. "This is well beyond football, this is his life. He understands the importance of getting this issue under control and being able to live a healthy and long life. If he can, we will evaluate that at the right time."

Gordon was suspended Dec. 20, a short time after he announced he was stepping away from the team to address his wellbeing. Gordon also took a self-imposed sabbatical from the Browns in August. Owner Robert Kraft and his son, Jonathan Kraft, both addressed Gordon's situation this week.

"He was a real good guy, and there was a connection," Robert Kraft said in an interview with NBC Boston. "Unfortunately, people like that need mentoring at a young age, but when it becomes addiction, addiction is something that is way beyond our... We gave him tremendous support on a daily basis, and he was worthy. But I think we as a society have to try to help these young people not to get addicted in the first place. And that's the sad part of this. He's a good guy -- a really good guy. It makes us sad." Jonathan Kraft was sympathetic to Gordon's situation but would not say if he'd get another chance in New England.

"You get exposed to it in a whole different way when you come from where Josh Gordon came from. He is a very good kid," he said. --By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media