10 NFL preseason Week 2 winners
By Ian Wharton
![CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/776865c77f5e82f2d7fb6f9b147558a8fe0b339a3c5fcb4216fdccecb04dae3d.jpg)
9. Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns
The conspiracy theories surrounding Josh Gordon thankfully came to an end as the superstar receiver announced via Twitter his return to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. The 27-year-old stepped away from the team on the cusp of training camp to tend to his mental health. He’ll be “eased in”, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Gordon’s football future is the less important topic and it remains to be seen how he’ll deal with the pressure that playing in the NFL brings. Especially with Hard Knocks cameras sure to be focused on his return, and the Browns now under more media scrutiny as the team has made a big push to win this year.
His repeated incidents have cost him two seasons and likely tens of millions of dollars to this point in his career. Not set to be an unrestricted free-agent until he’s 29 after 2019, he may never get a mega-deal that his talent warrants. This isn’t to condemn him, but rather to highlight how real his struggles with addiction to been.
I hope this first step for Gordon leads to sobriety as he desires. He’s a big winner for prioritizing his mental health and proving his strength.