The New England Patriots were reportedly pushing hard to acquire a Pro Bowl wide receiver at the deadline, knowing there was a chance that Josh Gordon wouldn't play the whole year.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Patriots tried acquiring Demaryius Thomas from the Denver Broncos. Thomas wound up being traded to the Houston Texans, and the Patriots never swung a deal for another pass catching option.

Gordon announced Thursday that he was stepping away from football to focus on his mental health. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Gordon is facing a possible suspension "for violating terms of his conditional reinstatement under NFL drug policy," and that he might never play again.

The Patriots lose their leading receiver (720 yards on 40 receptions), for the season. There's no doubting that adding another big-time talent like Thomas would have helped, but the Broncos settled on the Texans' offer of fourth and seventh-round draft selections.

It's also unlikely the Broncos would have been keen on trading Thomas to an arch rival like the Patriots. Seeing how little Houston had to surrender in a deal for Thomas, it also doesn't seem like the Pats were keen on offering much for his services.

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Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

A five-time 1,000-yard receiver, Thomas has 20 receptions for 238 yards and two touchdowns in six games with the Texans - who need two wins to secure a first-round bye in the AFC.

As for the Patriots, their offense has been sluggish for much of the second half. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been largely unproductive, and the losses of Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks in the offseason couldn't be much more evident.

What This Means

The Patriots' gamble on Gordon paid off nicely, as he provided them with a big-time playmaker who could stretch the field with his excellent set of wheels. But with Gordon stepping away to focus on his mental health, the Patriots lose their top receiver. There's simply no replacing the production that he left behind.

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