Practice squad WR Justyn Ross could be the answer to Chiefs' problems after Rashee Rice's injury
The Kansas City Chiefs need someone to step up at wide receiver in wake of Rashee Rice's injury. Rice was placed on injured reserve last week and will miss at least the next four games as the severity of his knee injury continues to be evaluated. It's possible that he misses a huge chunk, if […]
The Kansas City Chiefs need someone to step up at wide receiver in wake of Rashee Rice's injury. Rice was placed on injured reserve last week and will miss at least the next four games as the severity of his knee injury continues to be evaluated.
It's possible that he misses a huge chunk, if not the rest of the season. Combine that with Hollywood Brown also set to miss most, if not the remainder of the year, the Chiefs are now paper thin at receiver as they chase the first ever three-peat in NFL history.
Fans have spent the past week dreaming up trade scenarios, hoping that Kansas City can land a big name that can produce like Rice was. A trade isn't out of the question, but it's going to trickier than you might think to pull off given the Chiefs' salary cap situation, and the receiver that they get may not necessarily be a big name.
Like it or not, the Chiefs are going to have to do the best with what they have for the foreseeable future. They will no doubt elevate at least a couple of guys from the practice squad, and one of them is likely to be third-year man Justyn Ross. Out of all the receivers on the Chiefs' roster, Ross may be the best equipped to replace Rice.
Ross has been a training camp and preseason standout each of the last two years. He made the Chiefs' 53-man roster last year, but a suspension derailed any chance he may have had of getting on the field and making an impact. With a more crowded WR room in 2024, Ross couldn't crack the final 53, but was signed to the practice squad.
Our friend Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest reported that Ross has been practicing with the starters this week, making it likely that he'll be activated for Monday's game against the New Orleans Saints.
Ross has done next to nothing in regular season action, but hasn't really gotten any significant playing time besides a meaningless Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Chargers last year in which the Chiefs played their backups. Throughout the last two training camps, Ross has received plenty of work with the starting offensive unit and has been a highlight reel, particularly in the redzone.
Regular season football is obviously a whole different animal than camp, but with the situation the Chiefs are in at receiver, it's time to see if Ross can translate his success from the practice field to actual games. At 6-foot-4, he brings a size element to the Chiefs' offense that no other receiver has.
Allowing him to utilize his big frame by throwing the ball up high to him could make a difference in redzone and third and long situations. The Chiefs have struggled to cash in for touchdowns during the better part of the last two years, so why not try to add this element to the offense? Ross isn't going to be the caliber of player that Rice is, but it will pay big dividends for the Chiefs' offense if it can weaponize Ross' unique skillset.
Chiefs’ injury situation improves in final practice ahead of Week 5 ‘Monday Night Football’ game vs. Saints
The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints have released their final injury reports ahead of Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season.
