The Chiefs’ wide receiver room changed a lot over the 2022 offseason but can Flash Gordon survive training camp?
Well, let’s say that even without Tyreek Hill in Kansas City, the wide receiver room is quite crowded this year. And even though Josh Gordon has been underwhelming last year with only just five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, he surprised a lot of people during OTAs. He means business, and maybe he’s looking to rekindle something for the 2022 season.
In his career, with suspensions and all, he had 252 receptions for 4,284 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is now fifth in the chart for wideouts, but his speed could be a good fit if he can showcase his hands and speed. Gordon was one of the fastest receivers even when he came back from multiple suspensions, he was once said to run under a 4.4 second forty when he came to the Chiefs last season. All that being said, his roster spot is far from secured, but there are a few reasons why he could stay in Kansas City.
His size and catching ability are his greatest attributes, even though he had trouble adjusting to head coach Andy Reid’s offense, he didn’t move well and he didn’t make those tough “50/50” catches last year he was making before coming to the Chiefs. But that could be easily explained by how notoriously difficult the Andy Reid playbook can be and he maybe needs an offseason to adjust. Gordon also has the trust of his coaches and teammates it seems, so that’s a plus.
As Kansas City wrapped up its third and final round of Organized Team Activities, there were some positive chats about Gordon, especially from Head Coach Andy Reid.
“You guys were out there, you could see that he’s running better, catching better,” Reid said. “He’s working hard at all of this. He’s a good kid and he’s smart, so that helps. That’s the way he’s approached this whole thing and he’s getting reps, so he can get himself back where he wants to be.”
Returning on a reserve/futures contract, it didn’t cost the Chiefs much to bring Gordon back this offseason. The fact that Reid expressed interest in another chance could be telling, and Reid’s recent praise of Gordon is even more intriguing.
The Chiefs’ wide receiver locker room has seen quite a bit of change this offseason, as Tyreek Hill, Byron Pringle, and Demarcus Robinson have been replaced by JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore.
Will Gordon be able to have some reps behind those three and let’s not forget about Mecole Hardman, it will be a tough task, but his efforts during OTAs are a good sign so far.
Josh Gordon left practice with a trainer Wednesday afternoon for an undisclosed injury but Andy Reid gave good news saying: “He’ll be fine, he came out on the better end of that — than that could have been.”
As mandatory minicamp and training camp approach, he’ll look to continue standing out and get more praises from his coaches.
