The Patriots announced Monday afternoon they have traded for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. Throughout his six-year tenure in Cleveland, Gordon — who hasn’t been active for a full NFL season since his rookie year — battled substance abuse and faced several suspensions from the league.
Here’s a look at his past:
Middle and high school — Gordon told GQ‘s Clay Skipper he first started self-medicating with Xanax, marijuana, and codeine in middle school. He said his initial usage stemmed from social awkwardness, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and “adolescent trauma-based fear.