JUSTYN ROSS Story: From 1st rounder to UNDRAFTED (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS signs UDFA Justyn Ross)
90JUSTYN ROSS Story: From 1st rounder to UNDRAFTED (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS signs UDFA Justyn Ross)
JUSTYN ROSS Story: From 1st rounder to UNDRAFTED (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS signs UDFA Justyn Ross)
JUSTYN ROSS Story: From 1st rounder to UNDRAFTED (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS signs UDFA Justyn Ross)
Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross. Ross burst onto the scene as a freshman, finishing the 2018 season as Clemson’s leading receiver despite being on the same offense as Tee Higgins, Hunter Renfrow, and Amari Rodgers. He was by far the most efficient receiver the Tigers had on the roster, and was a true standout among the group. In 2019 his efficiency dropped, but he still performed extremely well with 66 receptions for 856 yards and 8 touchdowns.
During spring practices in 2020 it was revealed that Ross had Klippel-Feil syndrome, which is a congenital condition in the spine where vertebrae are fused together. This condition and his recovery from the surgery to repair it would cost Ross his entire 2020 season. The surgery involved the complete removal of a disc in his neck and stabilization of the joint. He would return to play in the 2021 season, but he was not his former self in terms of production.
No player diagnosed with Klippel-Feil syndrome has ever been cleared for play at the NFL level, due to the risk of a catastrophic injury. According to Dr. Jessica Flynn, “because the flexibility and shape of the neck [has been] altered, even minor neck trauma could cause pressure on the spinal cord.”
With this in mind, one has to wonder why he was ever cleared to return to play at Clemson. Even with the advances of modern medical technology, head and spinal cord injuries are still among the most dangerous and career threatening within football. If even minor trauma can cause catastrophic injury to the spinal cord, then continuing to play for Clemson was undoubtedly against Ross’ best interests.
In regards to Ross going undrafted this past weekend, Dr. Flynn unsurprisingly said: “I didn’t think he would get drafted, sadly.”
Earlier today the Kansas City Chiefs signed Ross to their 90-man roster, and will at minimum be giving him a shot at his NFL dreams despite his injury risk. Whether that leads to him being cut due to concerns about his injury or
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SIGNS JUSTYN ROSS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SIGNS JUSTYN ROSS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SIGNS JUSTYN ROSS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SIGNS JUSTYN ROSS