New England Patriots receiver Josh Gordon said Thursday he is stepping away from football to focus on his mental health.
In a statement on Twitter, Gordon said: "I take my mental health very seriously at this point to ensure I remain able to perform at the highest level. I have recently felt like I could have a better grasp on things mentally. With that said, I will be stepping away from the football field for a bit to focus on my mental health."
Gordon went on to thank coach Bill Belichick, team owner Robert Kraft, the Patriots organization and the fans.