The NFL Players Association filed a noninjury grievance against the Cleveland Browns for the one-game suspension they imposed on wide receiver Josh Gordon for the last game of this past season, a league source told ESPN.

Josh Gordon appeared in only five games in 2014 as a result of his suspension for the season finale, meaning he was not active for enough games to have the season accrue toward his free agency. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The NFLPA filed the grievance at the end of last week, and it will go to an independent arbitrator.

The suspension could prevent Gordon from getting an accrued season and delay him from reaching free agency. Gordon's suspension meant he was active for only five games; an NFL player needs six games active to have it count as an accrued season toward free agency.

The NFLPA plans to argue, among other things, that Gordon's missing a special-teams meeting did not constitute grounds for a one-game suspension.

Gordon intends to resume playing in the NFL after his one-year suspension ends after the 2015 season. He also was suspended for the 2014 season in August after a failed drug test, but the NFL later reduced his suspension to 10 games.