After losing for the second week in a row, the Chiefs’ front office made a splash in free agency
on Monday by signing wide receiver Josh Gordon to the practice squad, per Adam Schefter.
Gordon, 30, had multiple teams contact him but he viewed Kansas City as a potential long-term
destination. The former second round pick was reinstated by the NFL on September 24th —
making him eligible to play as early as Week 4.
By Jack Johnson, Sports Radio 810
Gordon has over 4,000 yards receiving in his five-year career, but hasn’t played since 2019. In
that season, Gordon played for both New England and Seattle — hauling in 27 passes for 426
yards and one touchdown in 11 games.
The 30-year-old’s best season came in 2013 with the Cleveland Browns when he led the league
in receiving with 1,646 yards. However, the Chiefs didn’t sign the 2013 version of Gordon.
Instead, the offense is hoping to get half of that version.
If he can stay on the field, Gordon is likely the Chiefs’ second-best receiver. With his frame of
6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Gordon is a rare combination of size and speed that make him a difficult
matchup for opposing teams’ second or third-best cornerback. If he can’t stay on the field, then
there’s no change to the current offense. It is the true definition of low-risk, high-reward.
The next question is — when should we expect to see Gordon on the 53-man roster? Despite
the poor start, Gordon won’t be joining the roster for a few weeks. It’ll take time to learn the
playbook and get up to game speed. In all honesty, the perfect time for Gordon to join would be
when Kansas City is on an upward trend. My best guess for Gordon’s addition would be Week 8
vs. the Giants — giving him four weeks to adjust to his new team.
When he’s on the field, how will he be utilized? That part comes down to how much juice
Gordon still has. Even if it’s the 2019 version, he’ll be targeted like a No. 2 receiver. Those
passes being thrown to Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle may start going in the direction
of Gordon.
We’ve seen former standouts make a final stop in Kansas City before their careers flamed out.
Darrelle Revis in 2017, Kelvin Benjamin in 2018, LeSean McCoy in 2019, and Le’veon Bell in
2020. Gordon becomes the fifth-consecutive guy to join that list. Will he make the biggest
impact of them all?