Browns Receiver Josh Gordon Suspended; Will Debut Against Vikings

One of the early season opponents for the Minnesota Vikings might be operating at a bit of a disadvantage when they take on our favorite football team this season.

Per our friends over at Dawgs By Nature, wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended for the season's first two games (and fined four game checks) for violating the National Football League's substance abuse policy.

Gordon released a statement stating that the positive drug test was caused by his taking medication that he had been prescribed for a case of strep throat that contains codeine. Codeine is prohibited by the league's policy. In the statement, Gordon cited his "accidental ingestation" of the product as the reason that the league did not suspend him for the maximum of four games (but still taking four game checks from him).

(EDIT: I thought Gordon had a prescription for the medicine with codeine that he had taken. As "just another viking" points out in the comments, he did not. My apologies for the error. -Chris)

Gordon was taken by the Browns in the 2012 Supplemental Draft, which caused the Browns to forfeit their second-round pick in this year's draft. Despite getting to the Browns a bit late, he wound up being the team's leading receiver in 2012, hauling in 50 passes for 805 yards and five touchdowns.

Because Gordon will miss Cleveland's first two games, he will make his 2013 debut in Week 3, which happens to be the home opener for the Minnesota Vikings to kick off the Metrodome's final season. With Gordon missing the first two games of the regular season, it's possible that he'll be a bit behind the curve when he finally does get a chance to take the field for a regular season contest.