Wide receiver Josh Gordon will begin to participate in walk-through sessions when the Browns resume practice Saturday.
His return to full-fledged practices isn't expected to be far behind.
Gordon came back to the Browns this past Saturday after missing a little more than the first three weeks of training camp while receiving treatment in Florida connected to his public struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. He needs the league's blessing to practice as part of the conditions of his substance-abuse program.
And coach Hue Jackson has repeatedly stressed the importance of Gordon being physically ready for action, too.
"Josh Gordon is going to go into the second phase of the process that we have him on," Jackson said Friday during a conference call. "He will definitely be involved in walk-throughs. I am going to see where we are as far as practice is concerned. I am not sure yet. I have not seen him today myself, personally, before we put him out there. He is definitely getting into the next process for us. He will definitely be involved in the walk-throughs and doing some other things."
Since Gordon reunited with the Browns, he has worked out on the side of the field during practices under the guidance of the team's athletic training staff.
Now he'll take the next step toward playing.
Jackson has said there's a chance Gordon could return to game action in the Aug. 30 preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.
"It'd be great," Jackson said Tuesday. "If not, my real goal is can we get him up and running by the time we play Pittsburgh (in the regular-season opener on Sept. 9)? I think that's really important."
