Can KC Chiefs really expect anything from Josh Gordon in 2022?

It was Monday, September 27th. The Kansas City Chiefs had just been upset by their rival the Los Angeles Chargers and were sitting at 1-3. Suddenly, across the news wire came word that the Chiefs were signing wide receiver Josh Gordon. Chiefs Kingdom perked up and went wild.

The oft-maligned receiver was being reinstated again and this time, Gordon was signing with a team he thought to be a contender. He was right. The question back then, as it is today, is whether or not Gordon would make a difference for the Chiefs.

Like most fans, I had high expectations for Gordon. I was talking with a friend the other day who said, “When I saw Gordon make that first 10-yard reception, I knew things were about to change.” News flash: it didn’t. Gordon would only have 5 receptions for the entire season and only had 32 yards with 1 touchdown.

Josh Gordon finds himself on the practice squad. Can a full offseason with the team allow him to flourish?

Gordon’s play was so uninspiring that he was actually deactivated and cut near the end of the season to make room for Khalen Saunders. That wasn’t the end of his Chiefs story though. Kansas City re-signed Gordon to a reserves-futures contract on the practice squad, which means they apparently still see some promise in him.

What could that promise look like, and what should we expect from Gordon going into the offseason?

Many seem to think that a full offseason in Andy Reid‘s offense will allow Gordon to finally flourish and live up to his potential, but that has been a recurring theme throughout Gordon’s career. His endless amounts of second chances have not added up to much. I described it as the Josh Gordon Cycle to my friend the other day. Gordon gets another chance, signs with high hopes, doesn’t live up to those expectations (because of suspension or underperformance), and then another team repeats the cycle.

It is possible that Gordon just needs a full offseason to really learn Reid’s notoriously difficult playbook and concept. It’s equally possible that Gordon doesn’t even make it to the 53-man roster, or even to training camp with the Chiefs.

I think Chiefs fans should temper our expectation of what Gordon can do for the team, and should probably hope that K.C. invests in another—younger—receiver this offseason. Gordon is going to be 31 in April, and it will be telling if he’s still on the roster come July, and VERY telling if he actually makes the 53. That will mean that Andy and Veach believe he can contribute.

Finally, one overlooked aspect of the Gordon signing this year was how it actually impacted the other receivers on the team. Without a doubt, Pringle, Hardman, and Robinson all stepped up and played better after Gordon was signed. Were they great? No. But it certainly seemed to light a fire. I have to wonder if this psychological impact will be enough reason for the Chiefs around through at least training camp.

Although, using a roster spot on a low production receiver just so he can motivate the others doesn’t seem like a wise roster-building decision.

The bottom line is, nobody really knows what to expect from Josh Gordon going forward, but the Chiefs obviously see enough to keep him around for a little while longer. The important part is that he seems to have gotten his personal life settled, and barring another suspension, he might finally have an opportunity for a late-career renaissance.