BEREA, Ohio -- Duke Johnson has been around Josh Gordon long enough to know that if he sees something, to say something.

It's no longer good enough to let the Pro Bowl receiver go to his quiet place without anybody reaching out or making sure he's okay.

"You can talk to him,'' said Johnson. "I don't think he'll take anything personal because he knows we're only looking out for his well-being. So, go directly to him."

Heading into his fourth season, Johnson has taken on more of a leadership role on this young and transient team, and he knows Gordon needs a ton of support to stay sober and healthy. Even if he doesn't ask for it or seem like he needs it.

"We all know he can play football,'' said Johnson. "We all know the kind of skills that he has. My thing with Josh will always be is him taking care of himself mentally and off the field what he's doing when he's not here. We all know he can play. A lot of people support him on the field. I think it's our job as an organization, a team and a staff to support him off as well."

By the same token, Johnson won't cross the line.

"We're not going to treat Josh like a child,'' he said. "We're not going to pop up and do surprise visits and call him 24-7. We know our teammates, or at least we try to, and when we feel that he needs us that's when we jump in, but we're not going to call him 24-7, not going to blow his phone up.''

Likewise, Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey, who's also become a vocal team leader, will take it upon himself to make sure Gordon is okay. In the past, teammates have been surprised when Gordon stumbles, because he puts on a brave face and doesn't let on he's struggling.

"It's just like with any other guy,'' said Kirksey. "You make sure they're going down the right path, making sure they're doing everything they got to do to make this team win. Make sure their off-the-field activities is being policed and I take pride in doing that just from being a leader on the team, being a good teammate.

"You've got to treat him the same way as your other teammates and just continue to look after everybody."

One of the longest-tenured players on the team, Kirksey has seen more of Gordon's struggles than most. He watched him return from suspension with six games left in the 2014 season and struggle on-and-off the field. By the season finale that year, he overslept for the morning walk-through because of heavy partying the night before with his pal Johnny Manziel, and both were suspended for the game in Baltimore.

Kirksey watched him come back before the 2016 season only to leave again and check himself back into rehab. He watched him make it back to the field - amazingly - for the final five games of last season, only to need another unexpected trip back to treatment this summer at the University of Florida.

"I've known Josh for five years now,'' Kirksey said. "He's a quiet guy if you don't know him, but once you know him on a personal level and are able to talk to him, he's a great guy. He's always putting other people before him and he's just a guy that loves to work so whenever you see him taking those proper steps, it just excites me just to see that he can get through adversity.

"As his family, especially on the football field, we help him get through it. I'm proud of Josh and I can't wait to see him excel this year."

Gordon, who has a medical team and support staff supervising his treatment program, doesn't expect anything from his teammates.

"I just need them to be themselves honestly,'' he said. "That's it. If they feel like caring for Josh today, great. If not, great. I'm going to be alright and things will go as they should go.

"Like I said, I'm definitely happy to have them in and around my life in any type of way possible. Anyway they want to be a part of it, I love those guys and I'm grateful to have them."

Johnson knows it's one-day-at-a-time for Gordon, who's struggled since middle school with substance abuse, both drugs and alcohol.

"It's an early start,'' said Johnson. "It's about maintaining throughout the season and maintaining it throughout the rest of his career."

Asked if Gordon seems any different, Johnson said, "Josh is Josh. He's not really talked much, [keeps] to himself, talks every now and then, so he just got back.''



Johnson believes the best can be yet to come for Gordon with the additions of Tyrod Taylor and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.



"It's definitely another level Josh can obviously go to,'' said Johnson. "It's just about staying on him and holding him accountable and just sticking with him."