Why did Chiefs waive troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon?

The Kansas City Chiefs are off to their fourth straight AFC Championship, but Josh Gordon won’t be there next Sunday after getiing waived Monday afternoon.

As.comUpdate: Jan 24th, 2022 18:38 EST

Denny MedleyUSA TODAY Sports

It has been a rough road for Josh Gordon over the last few years, and it seems like his return to the grid iron may be coming to an end, at least in a Kansas City Chiefs jersey.

Chiefs beat Bills to get to AFC Title game

The reigning AFC Champions waived the troubled wide receiver just hours after their dramatic win over the Bills on Sunday night.

The Chiefs took a gamble on Gordon in early October, signing him to a contract through the rest of the year. He was originally brought on to be a part of the practice squad, but was bumped up to the 53 man roster just a week later.

The Chiefs have waived veteran Josh Gordon, a source told @adamteicher.However, the team plans to sign Gordon to their practice squad if he clears waivers. pic.twitter.com/4lc6afO1Nf

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 24, 2022

Gordon’s troubled past

Gordon had not played since 2019, and had to get reinstated by the league after violating the league’s substance abuse policy in December of that year. He was momentarily reinstated in December of 2020, but had that rescinded by the league the next month.

Gordon has had a history of drug related incidents that has interrupted a once promising career. He has been suspended six times since he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2012, but the Chiefs decision to waive the wide receiver doesn’t appear to have been made for his behavior off the field. It appears the Chiefs came to the decision based on his inefficiency since coming up from the practice squad.

When the Chiefs brought in Gordon at the start of the season they were under scrutiny for not looking like the AFC Champions of the year before. The offense was struggling, and the front office took a chance on the former second round supplemental draft pick.

Will Gordon stay with KC on practice squad?

Since joining the 53 man roster in October he had just five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. He was inactive for Kansas City’s two playoff wins, and after the win over the Bills on Sunday the Chiefs made the decision to waive Gordon.