The Browns will try to trade Josh Gordon, but they have to wait on the NFL first

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was released last week from an inpatient rehab facility and is reportedly in a much better place, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Now the question is whether or not the Browns will trade him and if he still has a future in professional football.

With an 0-7 record, the Browns need all of the help they can get this season. After not playing for more than one year, though, it's difficult to see how much of an impact Gordon could make. Cleveland was reportedly shopping him before he entered rehab, and they're reportedly shopping him again.

But a trade and Gordon's future, depends on the NFL granting his reinstatement. The NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday.

The NFL suspended Gordon indefinitely for violating the substance abuse policy, but reinstated him in July and knocked the ban down to four games. Two months later, the troubled wideout decided to go to rehab. "After careful thought and deep consideration I’ve decided that I need to step away from pursuing my return to the Browns and my football career to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility," Gordon’s statement read. "This is the right decision for me and one that I hope will enable me to gain full control of my life and continue on a path to reach my full potential as a person."

At the time, Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reported Brown's rehab stint likely spelled the end for him in Cleveland. He's served four separate suspensions for violating the substance abuse policy since the Browns selected him in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft. Gordon didn't play at all in 2015 due to an indefinite suspension and was sidelined for 10 games the previous year. Schefter says the Browns are waiting to see if Gordon will be permitted to rejoin the team at its training facility.

Gordon's breakout season came in 2013, where he led the league with 1,646 receiving yards and caught nine touchdowns in 14 games. But in 2014, he only eclipsed 100 receiving yards in a game once after returning from his suspension.