DILLON GORDON began 2017 the same way he ended 2016: lingering in the background. He took snaps with the backup linemen, caught some balls with the tight ends, and spent most of the rest of the day in meetings.
Yet throughout the first practice session of this week's Organized Team Activities, both Gordon and his employer were reminded of the future toward which they are working. With longtime left tackle Jason Peters absent from the voluntary session, Lane Johnson spent the morning manning the position with the same elite blend of size and balance he brings to his usual spot on the right side of the line.