The Kansas City Chiefs, fresh off of a Super Bowl victory, could be set to unleash yet another offensive weapon in 2023. Of course, I’m talking about a former Clemson star wide receiver, a player who was an instant success for the Tigers. Did you think I was talking about DeAndre Hopkins? No, I’m talking about former Clemson star Justyn Ross.
Although the DeAndre Hopkins decision still looms, it’s Justyn Ross who is currently already rocking the Chiefs colors and making plays for Patrick Mahomes at offseason practices. To give you the Spark Notes version of Ross’ incredible story, he suffered a career-threatening spinal condition after an injury at Clemson, a detour that likely prevented him from being the latest first-round wide receiver from the Clemson program.
The road back to the football field was grueling for Ross, but he did it, and he landed a spot on the Chiefs’ roster after the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he would land on season-ending IR due to offseason foot surgery.
Now, with the 2023 NFL season looming and the Chiefs clearly in the market for wide receiver help, Justyn Ross has a chance — at just 23 years old — to finally make the mark on the NFL many people thought he could back when he was dominating in his first two years with the Clemson program. Footage has emerged of Ross streaking down the field to catch a touchdown pass from league MVP Patrick Mahomes…
Justyn Ross could satisfy the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver thirst
We heard Chiefs Kingdom might be interested in this… pic.twitter.com/dnLTK8NsHZ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 31, 2023
Justyn Ross somehow emerging this coming season would be unfair for the rest of the NFL, and an absolute godsend for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have plenty of talent at the receiver position, but it just feels like there might be one piece missing from that group. Perhaps it’s a veteran presence like DeAndre Hopkins, or perhaps it’s the emergence of someone like Justyn Ross.
Kansas City traded for Kadarius Toney last year, and he ended up making a huge impact in their Super Bowl run. They also have used consecutive second-round picks on Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice. Considering those top three receivers were all selected in the first two rounds of the draft, you can’t feel too bad for someone like Patrick Mahomes, right?
Now, the potential of Justyn Ross emerging brings a new element of excitement to a wide receiver group in Kansas City that is raw, but extremely gifted.
Last offseason, the Chiefs made a curious move to trade Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. They ended up still having the top offense in the league without him, proving that Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes can really make just about anything that works.
Justyn Ross coming out of nowhere to play with the starting offense in Kansas City would be one of a number of really incredible stories in the 2023 season, including the potential return of Damar Hamlin to the field for the Buffalo Bills.
"Justyn is coming along. He feels good, his foot feels good (and) the surgery that he had worked out well up to this point. He’s made some nice plays for us out here. I know Pat’s (Mahomes) got trust in him, so that’s good to see.Andy Reid (via James Palmer)"
If Mahomes is trusting in Ross and impressing the Chiefs’ coaching staff, we could be witnessing the beginning stages of one of the bigger breakout seasons in the NFL this coming year.