Dabo Swinney provides tough injury update on Justyn Ross

It’s a worst-case scenario for Clemson receiver Justyn Ross. On Wednesday, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said the team’s second-leading receiver will undergo foot surgery.

Ross was playing through the injury all year, but he aggravated it last week against Wake Forest. He’s second on the team with 51.4 receiving yards per game and has a team-high three receiving touchdowns.

His name has appeared on some NFL Draft lists, which is why the timing of the surgery isn’t ideal. However, Swinney said Ross will be available for the NFL Combine after the surgery. In fact, he said Ross won’t take long to fully recover — but he’s not ready to rule him active for a bowl game.

“That’s the plan, get him well. It’s not going to take long for him to get back well. We’ll see where he is. I don’t know if he would play in the bowl game or not,” Swinney said. “But he definitely would be ready to train and do what he needs to do for the combine and stuff, be ready to roll.”

Losing Justyn Ross is huge for Clemson

Ross arrived at Clemson as a four-star recruit and the top-ranked prospect in Alabama, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Alongside Joseph Ngata, he’s been a big part of Clemson’s passing game this season.

Ross entered the year as the No. 5 wide receiver prospect in the ACC, according to Pro Football Focus. Just a couple weeks ago, CBS Sports projected him to go No. 32 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL Draft Combine is coming up March 1-7 in Indianapolis, and it sounds like Ross expects to be ready to go for it. The draft is scheduled for April 28-30.

“He doesn’t need another season. He’s going pro and going to be a great one,” Swinney said. “He’s more than ready. He’d have been ready last year if he’d have not gotten hurt. He’ll get himself healthy. It’s amazing what he’s been able to do, his toughness is second to none. And what he’s put on tape. For people to see him playing football and kind of put some of their fears to rest.

“He’s battled all year, man. That’s the one thing I can say — his last play of his career is the epitome of Justyn Ross. I mean just tough and fighting for every ounce. That’s really what I’m going to always have etched in my mind. He fought to get back and was fighting to get everything he could get on that play.”

Clemson is 7-3 this season and second in the ACC. The Tigers are getting ready to face No. 10 Wake Forest Saturday at noon ET on ESPN.