CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon is still awaiting a date on his appeal hearing, according to a report.

Gordon is appealing what's believed to be an indefinite ban from the NFL for his third violation of the substance abuse policy, which stipulates that he can't apply for reinstatement for at least one calendar year.

A source told profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio that the hearing isn't even on the calendar yet.

That's significant, because the sooner Gordon is banned, the sooner he can try to get back into the league.

If he loses the appeal, the ban will begin immediately, which means that he wouldn't be able to petition NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement until the end of next June. That means he'd miss all of organized team activities and mandatory minicamp next year.

If the hearing is postponed much longer, Gordon could be in jeopardy of missing some or all of training camp next year.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said at the conclusion of minicamp June 12 that he expected to hear about Gordon's suspension by the beginning of training camp July 26th.

He acknowledged, however, that the uncertainty has made it hard to prepare for the season.

"There's certainly a level of frustration because we've known the news for so long," Pettine told radio partner 92.3 The Fan. "It's just a holding pattern and I understand that the league has a process that they have to go through and there's other things that they're dealing with and we respect that. But at the same time it is difficult because it really will affect our preparation for the season.''

He said the club has met about it and "we're prepared for all of the eventualities, but the waiting is difficult."

Gordon sat out most of the mandatory minicamp with a pulled hamstring. Other receivers expected to help replace him have also been plagued by injuries, including Nate Burleson, Miles Austin and Travis Benjamin.

According to ESPN, Gordon tested positive for marijuana this offseason and was notified of his suspension in April. The failed test comes on the heels of his positive test last year for what he said was codeine in his prescribed cough syrup.

Instead of banning Gordon for the full four games last year, the NFL agreed to sit him for two games and dock him four game checks. Playing in the two additional games enabled Gordon to lead the NFL with 1,646 yards and make the Pro Bowl.

Upon his return, Gordon confirmed that his next failed test would result in the indefinite ban with the chance for reinstatement after a year.

Sources close to Gordon have told cleveland.com they're concerned his career could be over if he has to serve the full one-year ban and be away from the structure of the team.

Last season, he was permitted to remain with the club during his suspension and he benefited from the support system around him. If he loses the appeal, it would result in banishment, meaning he'd literally be kicked out of the NFL for at least a year and wouldn't be allowed to work out in Berea or attend meetings with his teammates.

Even if the suspension is reduced, there's still a good chance he'd be banished from the team during that time, per terms of the policy.