Josh Gordon given full reinstatement by NFL, will be in the lineup for Patriots vs. Steelers Week 1

The NFL Preseason is in the rear view mirror, and fans’ attention now turns to Week 1 of the regular season. Where the starters play as long as they are healthy, and the games count. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have a tall task ahead of them to open the season, a trip to Foxborough to play the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

While some players will be missing Week 1 for the Patriots, like Lance Kendricks and Ben Watson, they will have one dynamic receiver back on the field in Josh Gordon. Gordon was completely reinstated by the NFL, allowing him to play in regular season contests.

This per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero:

Gordon’s return will make life for the Steelers’ secondary even more hectic. Not only will the Steelers have to worry about Gordon, but also Julian Edelman, Demariyus Thomas and James White potentially coming out of the backfield.

To combat these weapons the Steelers will be bringing a much faster, more athletic, defense to the Gillette Stadium. Devin Bush and Mark Barron will be the new additions, and are allowing Keith Butler’s defense to do more than just rush the passer. The team now feels they have the pieces in place to actually defend against Tom Brady and company in the season opener.

As for the Patriots’ plans for Gordon, Bill Belichick wasn’t about to divulge any information.

“Yeah, we haven’t even started the game plan for the Steelers yet, so that’s way too early to try to formulate an answer on that question for him or I’d say a lot of other people,” Belichick told reporters this preseason.

Gordon will be there, and the former Cleveland Browns draft pick will get the Steelers’ full attention on Sunday Night Football.