Prior to the start of the New England Patriots' 2019 campaign, wide receiver Josh Gordon has taken to social media to address an issue that popped up toward the end of last season. In it, Gordon all but admitted that his sudden departure from football last year was once again related to a substance abuse issue:

https://twitter.com/JOSH_GORDONXII/status/1170033936795176960

Gordon admitted he has had an issue with substance abuse for some time, and he had not taken the time to focus on a solution until this past year. This likely refers to him once again stepping away from the sport last year, which caused a wave of rumors to begin popping up.

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Although Gordon acknowledged the issue, he also said he doesn’t plan on speaking about the past anymore, and will instead be looking to focus on the present and “getting better every day.” He also took time to thank the Patriots and the NFL for supporting him while he addressed the issues he had, and said he hopes people will judge him on what he's able to do in the future instead of what has occurred previously in his life.

As Josh Gordon prepares for another NFL season, both fans and the NFL alike will be hoping Gordon is able to keep his issues at bay and continue playing to his abilities. Should he remain with the Patriots all season, he’ll give the team a much-needed deep threat and another dominant wide receiver as they look to once again compete for a Super Bowl.