[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbwa53mtds520q2 player_id=none image=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sign WR Josh Gordon to the practice squad as soon as today, but how quickly will he make his debut with his new team?
Gordon was officially reinstated by the NFL on Monday after serving an indefinite suspension since December of 2019. His last snap of NFL football was on December 15th of 2019, though he did play for the Fan Controlled Football League, playing in February of 2021 for the Zappers.
There are two big questions that will determine how quickly Gordon will see the field in Kansas City. Firstly, is Gordon’s conditioning up to par? It’s one thing to be in shape, which Gordon undoubtedly is. It’s an entirely different thing to be in football shape. If Gordon is not in peak condition, it could take a week or two before the team feels comfortable trotting him out there. The last thing they want to do is risk Gordon injuring himself before really getting a chance to make an impact.
The second concern and more prominent concern is about how quickly it’ll take Gordon to pick up the Chiefs’ playbook. Reid’s offense is notorious for being tough to learn and even tougher to master, especially for wide receivers. They’re asked to know all the different positions and responsibilities within the offense. There’s a reason why the receivers that Reid has drafted rarely contribute in Year 1.
We do have one recent example of how cautious the team can be with these types of signings. Last season, when the team signed CB Deandre Baker to the practice squad under similar circumstances, he spent the majority of the season on the practice squad. He was elevated from the practice squad twice, but didn’t get a chance to play on defense in a game until Week 17.
Kansas City is obviously hopeful for a quick turnaround time once Gordon has officially joined the team. One thing that could be beneficial to this situation is the league’s practice squad rules. Teams are allowed to elevate practice squad players to the 53-man roster on game day two times before they’re ineligible for elevation. It’s possible that the Chiefs plan to elevate Gordon a few times and ease him into action before they actually go ahead and sign him to the 53-man roster. They’ll at the very least have the flexibility to do so at their discretion depending on how quickly Gordon gets acclimated to things in Kansas City.
[listicle id=101773]