Josh

Gordon

Gordon landed with the Titans after Justin Watson beat him out for a roster spot in Kansas City. He could add a downfield presence for the Titans against the Bills after the team’s wide receivers struggled to make plays downfield in Week 1. Gordon’s elevation could also be related to Kyle Philips’ (questionable, shoulder) status for the game. Gordon wouldn’t be a direct replacement for Philips in the slot but can help fill outside snaps as Robert Woods and Nick Westbrooke-Ikhine rotate into the slot.

After spending the last couple years in Kansas City without being able to really crack the rotation, Gordon was among the Chiefs’ 53-man cuts and will now look for a fresh start in Nashville. It’s a pretty solid landing spot for Gordon, and he fits the Titans’ style of liking bigger wideouts who can make things happen with the ball in their hands and block in their run-heavy scheme.

31-year-old Gordon was among the Chiefs’ cuts to get down to 53 players. He’s been trying to make the comeback to relevance, but Gordon struggled to get on the field in Kansas City the last couple years and hasn’t really produced much since 2019 with the Patriots. He’d be a flashy signing, but we’re just not sure how much Gordon has left in the tank.

This comes as something of a surprise after Kansas City beat writers projected Gordon to make the team following a solid training camp. At 31, Gordon’s NFL prospects are inarguably dim. The once-elite wideout could sign with a team in need of receiver depth, though he would remain miles away from fantasy relevance.

Taylor’s projection comes 16 days after ESPN’s Adam Teicher predicted Gordon would be on the outside looking in. Per Taylor, the coaching staff believes Gordon can “be a nice target for Patrick Mahomes in limited opportunities.” Gordon apparently impressed during the offseason program after his uninspiring 2021-22 53-man roster cameo. What is clear is that, on the team or not, Gordon is being viewed as a strict role-playing option for his age-31 campaign.

“The top four seem set and it’s difficult to see a place for Josh Gordon if he doesn’t earn a lot of playing time because he doesn’t help on special teams,” Teicher writes. Gordon has spent plenty of time on the practice squad with Kansas City over the past year and can be treated as a depth piece at this point.

The Chiefs also signed DB Dicaprio Bootle, DT Cortez Broughton, TE Matt Bushman, WR Gehrig Dieter, DE Austin Edwards, WR Daurice Fountain, LB Darius Harris, OT Roderick Johnson, DB Devon Key, WR Cornell Powell, TE Mark Vital, and C Darryl Williams to reserve/future contracts. The Chiefs brought in Gordon to give them another option at the WR2 spot but Gordon was unable to crack the rotation. He finished the regular season with five catches for 32 yards before being cut during the playoffs. He was then re-signed to the practice squad but Kansas City was subsequently bounced from the postseason. Gordon will get an offseason to better learn the offense, giving him a shot at making the team’s final roster this summer.

Kansas City waived Gordon on Monday with the intent of bringing him back if he cleared waivers. No team took a shot on him as a waiver claim so he became a free agent and was immediately added to Kansas City’s practice squad. Gordon was a non-factor during the regular season, recording five catches for 32 yards before being healthy scratched during the playoffs.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the Chiefs intend to bring Gordon back on the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers. Kansas City brought Gordon in early this year but he failed to make an impact and was ultimately a weekly inactive down the stretch. Gordon wasn’t active for either of the team’s playoff games. He posted five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown during his short stint with the Chiefs. Gordon will draw some buzz as a free agent in the spring but it’s been years since he was a meaningful contributor on an NFL team. His last 100-yard performance came in in 2018 with the Patriots.

The Browns would have to give Gordon permission to do this, which the Cleveland Plain Dealer says they will not do. Understandably so, as they’d be exposing their most talented player -- one they have under contract very cheaply through 2016 -- to injury without any on-field benefit. Furthermore, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says CFL rules don’t allow players under NFL contracts to play in the CFL -- only cut players can go north of the border. It’s a nice idea for Gordon to stay in shape and have some structure during his suspension, but this one is not going to happen.