It is likely to be that no current Kansas Metropolis 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 powerful case to make the opening day roster.
If he can achieve this, it will likely be an incredible comeback story a few participant who was repeatedly advised he might by no means play soccer once more.
Background
Ross had excellent freshman and sophomore seasons at Clemson, gathering 112 receptions for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns. This led many observers to conclude he would ultimately be chosen within the first spherical of the NFL Draft. However well being considerations saved him from being chosen in 2022, opening the door for Kansas Metropolis to signal him as an undrafted free agent.
For NFL groups, probably the most urgent concern about Ross’ well being was the cervical backbone fusion surgical procedure he underwent in 2020. After a routine hit in observe precipitated Ross to really feel numbness in each arms, he was identified with a congenital fusion of two vertebrae in his neck — a situation often 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 ultimately 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 harm he sustained throughout a “Monday Night time Soccer” recreation towards the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017.
Okonkwo’s surgical process eliminated the bulging disc that was impinging on Ross’ spinal twine, changing it with a bone graft. Whereas spinal fusions are definitely commonplace within the basic inhabitants, they’re uncommon amongst energetic 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 — had 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 Tremendous Bowl 50.
Fortunately for Ross, his situation was found (and handled) earlier than a critical harm — or worse — befell on a soccer discipline.
After over a 12 months of rehab, he returned to the sphere 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 solely 4 NFL groups had cleared Ross to play. We presume that Kansas Metropolis was one in every of them — and that the Chiefs’ medical workers 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 had been prepared to expend a draft choose to amass him. It wasn’t even crucial for the Chiefs to supply him a signing bonus along with his UDFA contract; it seems that different groups weren’t working laborious to signal him.
Ross finally didn’t get better from his foot surgical procedure as anticipated. A second surgical procedure was carried out after he arrived in Kansas Metropolis, which compelled 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 obtained reward from head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Former Clemson teammate Tee Higgins of the Bengals has additionally expressed confidence in him.
Up to now, Ross appears absolutely recovered from his foot surgical procedure — and has had no issues dealing with NFL contact in coaching camp. But it surely’s cheap to be involved that at some point, a success within the fallacious place might depart him with a critical impairment. Whereas there is no such thing as a motive to doubt the standard of the corrective surgical procedure that Okonkwo carried out on Ross in 2020, the very fact stays that nobody identified with Klippel-Feil syndrome has ever performed within the league. There may be merely no precedent for what Ross is doing.
So similar to with often-injured gamers, Ross’ greatest means could also be his availability. However he’s getting loads of observe reps — partly as a result of the Chiefs’ presumed No. 1 wideout Kadarius Toney is lacking time with an harm — and it now seems there’s a path the place Ross might make the staff’s preliminary 53-man roster.
One factor is for certain: when the Chiefs play their first preseason recreation towards the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, all eyes can be on Ross.
