The Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver room has been an ever-changing dynamic this season, and that could evolve once again in the very near future. This time, Justyn Ross is set to factor into the picture.
Ross, who has been on the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List since late October, is being issued a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. With that said, because Ross has already missed five games for Kansas City, those outings count against his total. As a result, the second-year pass-catcher is eligible to return to the team and is expected to do so following a Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills. Adam Schefter of ESPN cites Ross’s return date as Monday, adding that the 23-year-old must pay back the game checks he got while on “paid leave.”
Ross was given diversion last month due to an October arrest that occurred in Kansas. A court formally redirected the case on November 22, signaling that the former Clemson standout is no longer facing criminal charges. After being detained and placed under custody on October 23, Ross entered a not guilty plea to one count of criminal damage and one count of domestic assault with no prior convictions. This followed a domestic incident where Ross allegedly became enraged after learning that his partner was having an extramarital affair.
In seven games played this season, Ross has three receptions on six targets for 34 yards and no scores. He saw his snap counts fluctuate while in the lineup, topping out at 29 in Week 3 but then dipping down to four and six, respectively, in Weeks 5 and 6. In the two games leading up to his stint on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, he played a combined 27 snaps but wasn’t targeted in the passing game. Kansas City signed Ross as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has been patient by rostering him through injuries and development.
