Lindsay H. Jones

USA TODAY Sports

BEREA, Ohio — It is a "minor ding" and not a major infraction that has forced Josh Gordon off the Cleveland Browns practice field for the final two days of mandatory minicamp before the team breaks for summer.

Gordon, the troubled all-pro receiver, was merely a spectator Wednesday and will be again Thursday. Browns head coach Mike Pettine said Gordon suffered a minor injury Tuesday when trainers appeared to be stretching one of his hamstrings.

But Gordon's lack of work in practice beyond riding an exercise bike had nothing to do with the team trying to prepare for life without him. Still, he could be suspended for a significant length of time for repeated violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Gordon served a two-game suspension to start last season, and ESPN reported last month that he could face a ban that would keep him off the field until at least 2015.

"There's no additional update," Pettine said Wednesday when asked about Gordon. "He just has a minor ding."

Instead, Gordon — and the Browns coaching staff — watched a variety of other wideouts. Slot receiver Andrew Hawkins, free agent additions Earl Bennett and Anthony Armstrong, and rookie free agents Chandler Jones and Kenny Shaw all took repetitions with the first-team offense.

Veterans Nate Burleson and Miles Austin, signed as free agents earlier this spring, were limited to drills only. Austin, the longtime Dallas Cowboy, didn't even wear a helmet as he jogged through some routes. Burleson, who spent the last four years with the Detroit Lions, has resumed catching passes after having a cast removed from his surgically repaired forearm. Burleson missed most of Cleveland's voluntary practices.

Burleson's recovery, Austin's limitations (Pettine has not detailed Austin's issue other than to say the team is working him in slowly) and the questions surrounding Gordon have made this offseason a challenge for the receiving corps, and for coaches trying to plan their strategies.

"It does put us a little behind, with the uncertainty of what that lineup is going to look like," Pettine said.

The group is significantly different with the presence of Gordon, arguably the most talented player on the roster. With him, the Browns have a true No. 1 target, a rare big receiver (6-3, 225) with elite speed who racked up an NFL-best 1,646 receiving yards in 2013 in just 14 games. Without him, Cleveland has a lot of questions.

"I say that we have guys that have proven themselves. Most of the players, it's either opportunity hasn't given them a chance to shine, or injuries have held them back," Burleson said. "For me, I don't really care what people might think about the receiving corps. It's up to us to prove people who think we're good right, and people who don't think we're good, wrong. We're just going to go out there and make plays. We'll answer those questions when the season comes."

Both Burleson and Pettine singled out Hawkins, signed away from the Cincinnati Bengals as a restricted free agent, as the receiver who has most excelled during the offseason. Working primarily out of the slot, Hawkins has been a nightmare for the Cleveland defensive backs to cover in team drills.

"There was a play today where the defense was called, and the coverage was 51 Double, which means double (Hawkins), and he still got open. (Offensive coordinator) Kyle (Shanahan) got after (defensive coordinator Jim) O'Neill and said you might have to put three on him," Pettine said. "He's a guy that can win in the slot, and I think it's important that you can win at tight end, and we think Jordan (Cameron) can be that guy. And when you can win in the slot, that causes some issues defensively."

What's less clear is who would be the guy to replace Gordon, if it's even possible. Austin had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons for the Cowboys, but none since 2010. Burleson's last 1,000-yard effort was in 2004 with the Minnesota Vikings. Jones and Shaw have had nice moments in minicamp but remain unproven.

"I think that's the plus side of having those guys out — it really gives us a chance to find a diamond in the rough in the other guys," Pettine said.

And there's enough to focus on now with the installation of Shanahan's offense and a quarterback competition between Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel in addition to evaluating the new players catching passes.

"This is a job of uncertainty, not just with other guys, but also with yourself. The only thing you can do is show up, be a pro, on and off the field, and when you get a chance to make some plays, make those plays," Burleson said. "That's the only way you can handle the uncertainty of this game."

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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones