Josh Gordon suspended by Cleveland Browns for violating team rules

Like much of their 2014 season, the Cleveland Browns will play their season finale without wide receiver Josh Gordon.

The Browns suspended Gordon for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens for violating team rules, the team announced Saturday. The Browns did not say which rules Gordon violated to earn the suspension.

Gordon was late for Friday’s team practice and was wearing teammate Travis Benjamin’s jersey when he made it to the field, the Associated Press reported. Gordon and injured quarterback Johnny Manziel did not attend the team’s walk-through Saturday, according to NFL.com’s Mike Silver.

Gordon was suspended the first 10 games of the season by the NFL for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He initially was given a yearlong suspension but his punishment was reduced after the league passed a new drug policy.

Gordon, who led the league in receiving yards in 2013, struggled after returning in November. He recorded 24 catches for 303 yards and zero touchdowns in five games.

Gordon, 23, remains under contract with the Browns through the end of the 2015 season. He is due a base salary of $1.068 million. However, because Gordon did not appear in six games, this season will not count toward free agency. As a result, he would be a restricted free agent when his contract expires because he would not qualify for unrestricted free agency.

Cleveland’s playoff hopes are gone, but the Browns (7-8) would post their first non-losing season since 2007 with a win over Baltimore. The Browns will try to get it done with undrafted rookie quarterback Connor Shaw making his first NFL start.