It is perhaps that no latest Kansas City Chiefs participant has entered coaching camp with extra hype than vast receiver Justyn Ross. Throughout practices at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, the undrafted free agent has proven flashes of excellence — and is making a strong case to make the opening day roster.
If he can accomplish that, it is going to be an incredible comeback story a couple of participant who was repeatedly told he could never play football again.
Background
Ross had excellent freshman and sophomore seasons at Clemson, accumulating 112 receptions for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns. This led many observers to conclude he would finally be chosen within the first spherical of the NFL Draft. However well being issues stored him from being chosen in 2022, opening the door for Kansas Metropolis to signal him as an undrafted free agent.
For NFL groups, essentially the most urgent concern about Ross’ well being was the cervical backbone fusion surgical procedure he underwent in 2020. After a routine hit in follow precipitated Ross to really feel numbness in each arms, he was diagnosed with a congenital fusion of two vertebrae in his neck — a condition known as Klippel-Feil syndrome. This precipitated a bulging disc in his neck.
Initially advised that this situation would forestall him from persevering with his soccer profession, Ross finally underwent surgical procedure by Dr. David Okonkwo — the identical neurosurgeon who operated on Ryan Shazier. Though the previous Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker by no means performed soccer once more, Okonkwo’s surgical procedure allowed him regain the power to stroll after he was paralyzed by an injury he sustained throughout a “Monday Night time Soccer” sport towards the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017.
Okonkwo’s surgical process eliminated the bulging disc that was impinging on Ross’ spinal wire, changing it with a bone graft. Whereas spinal fusions are definitely commonplace within the common inhabitants, they’re uncommon amongst lively athletes — particularly these within the NFL.
Probably the most notable case is retired quarterback Peyton Manning, who underwent a cervical fusion earlier than becoming a member of the Denver Broncos late in his profession. However that surgical intervention — and the circumstances surrounding it — have been fairly totally different than Ross’ case, as a result of Manning’s disc herniation was not a congenital situation. Manning did return from his harm, taking part in 4 seasons in Denver that ended with a victory in Super Bowl 50.
Fortunately for Ross, his situation was found (and handled) earlier than a severe harm — or worse — happened on a soccer area.
After over a yr of rehab, he returned to the sector for Clemson’s 2021 season. Ross appeared in solely 10 video games earlier than he required surgical procedure for a stress fracture in his foot.
With this historical past, it was reported that the medical staffs of only four NFL teams had cleared Ross to play. We presume that Kansas Metropolis was one in every of them — and that the Chiefs’ medical employees believed his cervical fusion surgical procedure would permit him to play.
Nonetheless, there was sufficient uncertainty about his well being that none of these 4 groups have been prepared to expend a draft choose to accumulate him. It wasn’t even essential for the Chiefs to supply him a signing bonus along with his UDFA contract; it seems that different groups weren’t working onerous to signal him.
Ross finally didn’t recuperate from his foot surgical procedure as anticipated. A second surgical procedure was carried out after he arrived in Kansas Metropolis, which pressured the staff to place him put him on season-ending injured reserve as final season’s coaching camp started.
Outlook for 2023
Ross now heads into the 2023 season with sky-high expectations. Spotlight-reel catches like this one have solely elevated them.
All through coaching camp, Ross has additionally received praise from head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Former Clemson teammate Tee Higgins of the Bengals has additionally expressed confidence in him.
To this point, Ross appears totally recovered from his foot surgical procedure — and has had no issues dealing with NFL contact in coaching camp. Nevertheless it’s affordable to be involved that sooner or later, successful within the improper place may go away him with a severe impairment. Whereas there is no such thing as a cause to doubt the standard of the corrective surgical procedure that Okonkwo carried out on Ross in 2020, the actual fact stays that no one diagnosed with Klippel-Feil syndrome has ever played in the league. There may be merely no precedent for what Ross is doing.
So similar to with often-injured gamers, Ross’ greatest potential could also be his availability. However he’s getting loads of follow reps — partially as a result of the Chiefs’ presumed No. 1 wideout Kadarius Toney is missing time with an injury — and it now seems there is a path where Ross could make the team’s initial 53-man roster.
One factor is for certain: when the Chiefs play their first preseason sport towards the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, all eyes might be on Ross.
