The Kansas City Chiefs have placed fourth-year receiver Justyn Ross on waivers, according to the NFL’s transaction log released Wednesday.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that Ross asked to be released from the team last week to pursue other opportunities, with KC granting that request this week.
The 25-year-old Ross received plenty of hype after joining the Chiefs as an intriguing undrafted free agent in 2022.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Ross flashed huge potential at Clemson before injuries marred his draft stock. He combined for 12 catches and 301 yards in the 2018-19 College Football Playoff, but that was before he had surgery to address a congenital fusion in his spine. Then, after sitting out a year, his production at Clemson fell while he played most of the season through a stress fracture in his foot.
The Chiefs put Ross on injured reserve with a foot injury in 2022, and after that point, he gained notoriety from highlight-reel practice catch videos in Chiefs workouts. Ross’ top skill is going up to get contested balls, and he flashed that ability often in those viral clips.
He still struggled to find a consistent role with KC outside that, spending most of the last three seasons on the practice squad. Over his final two seasons with the Chiefs, Ross played in 14 total regular-season and postseason games, registering six catches for 53 yards with no touchdowns.
Ross also had an off-the-field issue during his time with KC, as he was arrested in October 2023 for domestic battery before later getting a diversion agreement approved. The NFL subsequently suspended Ross for six regular-season games for violation of its personal conduct policy.
The Chiefs will still have plenty of competition for their final receiver spots when training camp opens next week.
Although KC’s top five receivers for 2025 seem mostly set (Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Jalen Royals, JuJu Smith-Schuster), that still leaves one — and perhaps two — spots available. Among those battling in camp will be Skyy Moore, Tyquan Thornton, Nikko Remigio and Jason Brownlee.