Seahawks expected to sign Josh Gordon if reinstated even with Antonio Brown now 'unretired'

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had worked out some with former All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown this offseason and was pushing the front office to sign Brown. On Monday, Brown "retired" for the third time in a year via social media, but SportsLine NFL oddsmakers weren't buying it, listing Brown at -500 on the moneyline odds to play in the league again. Brown already has unretired. However, Seattle apparently has moved on and will re-sign another former All-Pro wideout, Josh Gordon, when/if the league reinstates him from suspension.

Gordon had a cryptic Instagram post Wednesday showing the skyline of Seattle and the words "Ima juss [sic] leave this here and be quiet." ESPN reporter John Clayton, based in Seattle, had this to say: "The Seahawks should be finding out something in the next week or two about Josh Gordon, who has applied for reinstatement following last year's suspension. If he is cleared, the Seahawks will try to sign him."

While Brown has had numerous off-field issues, is looking at an eight-game suspension and has blown up locker rooms with his antics, Gordon is considered a good teammate and is nearly as talented but has had trouble staying clean of drugs and alcohol. Last year in five games with Seattle, Gordon had seven catches for 139 yards. He opened the season with the Patriots and had 20 catches for 287 yards and a TD.

However, Gordon was suspended Dec. 16, 2019, for violating the NFL's policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse, his sixth suspension since the 2013 season. If reinstated, Gordon would become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, and he applied for reinstatement in March.

Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to decide the 29-year-old's future in the next week or two. For what it's worth, the league's new collective bargaining agreement includes a much more lenient approach to substance abuse, and marijuana suspensions are no longer a possibility

The Seahawks are looking for a No. 3 wideout behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Gordon has continued to live in Seattle since being suspended again.

While Brown is listed among William Hill's odds to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year – priced +2500 on the moneyline – Gordon currently is not. The site seems likely to add Gordon to that prop if reinstated.

Seattle opens Sept. 13 in Atlanta and is a 1-point favorite on the NFL odds.

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