Josh Gordon opened up about his struggles with substance abuse and addiction.

Although Gordon has yet to speak with the media since returning to the Patriots, the wide receiver penned an emotional letter that he shared on social media.

" Ian Kinsler Jersey Before the 2019 season starts, I would like to addre s an i sue that arose toward the end of last season," Gordon wrote, in part. "It's been well documented that I have battled substance abuse for quite some time. Unfortunately, I did not take the time to focus on a solution to my problem until this past year.

He continued: "Going forward, I will not Trevor Hoffman Jersey be discu sing the details of my past. I plan to focus on the present and getting better every day. I hope people will judge me on what I do now and in the future."

A number of teammates and coachBill Belichick offered their support Friday, just two days before Gordon and company open the season against the visiting Steelers.

"Josh has worked hard,"Belichick Austin Allen Jersey said, ."He's created an opportunity for himself."

Fellow receiverJulian Edelman added:"Having Josh back is unbelievable."

Flash Gordon (@JOSH_GORDONXII)

Gordon was reinstated by the NFL in mid-August after he was suspended Erick Aybar Jersey indefinitely in December for violating the terms of his reinstatement under the league's substance abuse policy.

The 28-year-oldhas been in and out of the NFL since the Browns took him in the 2012 supplemental draft.

He was suspended two games in 2013 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, mi sed all but five games of the 2014 season after failing a drug test, mi sed all of 2015 after another violation of league policy, and Yu Darvish Jersey didn't play in 2016 while hoping to get reinstated into the league.

Gordon eventually played the final five games of 2017 after his reinstatement.

In 2018, he was traded to the Patriots and played most of the year before being suspended indefinitely in December. Allen Craig Jersey

Gordon caught 41 pa ses for 737 yards and four touchdowns for the Patriots last year.

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