Kansas City Chiefs GM gives update on Justyn Ross’ health status

After a long wait throughout the NFL Draft and another long wait as many undrafted free agents signed deals around the league, former Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross finally landed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. After much talk about his health status, there is an update.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach provided an update on Justyn Ross’ health and his ability to compete for a spot on the regular season roster, via The Kansas City Star’s Herbie Teope. He declared that the team medically cleared him.

In addition, the executive added that Ross will be given an opportunity to compete throughout the offseason “as long as he stays healthy.” After the Chiefs’ busy flurry of wide receiver additions, he added that “It’ll be a very interesting competition for only 5-6 spots.”

A spring football injury in 2020 led doctors to diagnose Ross with Klippel-Feil syndrome, something he was born with but slipped through the cracks well into his college career. The freshman standout then returned to play in 2021 after his doctors cleared him to do so, despite a general belief people with his condition should avoid high-impact activities.

Concerns from NFL teams about physicals and long-term health risks likely played a role in his slide out of the draft despite his college production. But Kansas City feels confident in the medical they received and will give him a chance to earn his spot in the NFL.

More on Justyn Ross

Once upon a time, Justyn Ross was a consensus future first round selection who worked alongside Tee Higgins and Amari Rodgers. However, when the time came for the former Clemson star, the pass catcher was undrafted, and his market moved slow in the days following.

Last season, Ross had 46 catches for 514 yards, catching three touchdowns before suffering a major foot injury.

Moreover, 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.

Before last season, the former Clemson star entered the year as the No. 5 wide receiver prospect in the ACC, according to Pro Football Focus. During the football season, CBS Sports projected him to go as high as No. 32 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While watching teams pass on him throughout the NFL Draft, Ross was motivated — tweeting, “Just need dat 1 chance.”