CHIEFS WR JUSTYN ROSS SET TO RETURN NEXT WEEK AFTER BUFFALO GAME
After over a month of subpar wide receiver play, it seems like some much needed help is coming for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, as second-year wide receiver, Justyn Ross, is set to come back after the league announced his six-game suspension on Friday.
“The NFL today notified Kansas City’s Justyn Ross, who was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List on October 27th, that he is suspended six regular season games for violating the Personal Conduct Policy stemming from an incident that month,” a statement from the NFL read.
As per the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, any games a player misses while on the Commissioner Exempt List is usually credited against their suspension with the player being required to remit his salary for those missed games. Ross was not allowed to practice with the Chiefs or attend games, and thus missed six weeks while on the exempt list. The soon-to-be 24-year-old and will now have to pay back the six game checks he received on paid leave.
Ross missed a total of five games and the Chiefs’ Week 10 bye following the legal trouble in Shawnee, Kansas on October, 27th. The former Clemson Tiger, who went undrafted last year is set to be back Monday after his suspension is lifted following the Chiefs’ game against the Bills on Sunday.
Ross was initially arrested on Oct. 23rd for domestic battery and criminal property damage of less than $1,000 with his girlfriend allegedly pressing charges following an altercation between the couple over claims of infidelity. According to court documents, the young woman told police that Ross “got in her face, pushed her, and started throwing things at her” after he looked through her phone. Ross also allegedly destroyed her Mercedes with a knife.
The domestic battery charge faced by Ross was defined as “knowingly causing physical contact with a person with whom the offender is involved or has been involved in a dating relationship or a family or a household member, when done in a rude, insulting or angry manner.”
Ross pleaded not guilty to both misdemeanor charges with court records in Johnson County, Kansas, showing that his bond was set at $2,500. The bond also included various other conditions, including no contact with the accuser or any witnesses.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office later confirmed on November 27th that Ross was no longer facing criminal charges after a Judge granted an application for diversion in his case. A diversion interrupts a case following a deal between the defendant and the prosecutor where the prosecutor can either dismiss the charges entirely or not bring any charges at all.
While Ross has still yet to have an impact for the Chiefs as a wide receiver, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound pass catcher has terrific upside and could offer another look for Patrick Mahomes at receiver following a catastrophic year for Kansas City at the position. Ross, himself, has only registered a total 34 receiving yards from 3 catches in the 7 games he’s featured in this season, a figure that needs to improve if the Chiefs want another run to the Super Bowl.
As for the rest of Kansas City’s players this week, the Chiefs are set to be without four of their starters against Buffalo on Sunday as the injury bug continues to rear its ugly head for the defending Super Bowl champions down the stretch. Including second-year running back Isaiah Pacheco, who is dealing with a shoulder contusion, the Chiefs are also set to miss defensive back Bryan Cook, LT Donovan Smith and LB Drue Tranquill.
Head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday that former second-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire will start in Pacheco’s absence as the team activated star linebacker Nick Bolton from Injured Reserve in the absence of Drue Tranquill. The Chiefs also activated S Deon Bush and RB Deneric Prince from the practice squad.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Thomas Barley. This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States.