Following the Cincinnati Bengals' selection of former Washington wide receiver John Ross with the ninth overall pick in last year's draft, there were plenty of high expectations laid before him. However, it was anything but a prosperous rookie campaign as Ross fell well short of meeting any of lofty aspirations.
The 2017 season was a forgettable first year for Ross as he only played in three games where he had zero catches on two targets and a fumble on 17 total offensive snaps. His season ended prematurely in early December as he placed on the injured reserve due to a nagging shoulder injury that required surgery. According to Alex Marvez of Sporting News, Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green has spoken quite highly of his teammate after seeing him work out this offseason.
“He's got his confidence back,” Green said. “The way he's working this offseason is unbelievable. He's healthy and explosive again.”
This could be a huge boost for the Bengals' passing game if Ross is any bit of the player that the team is hoping to have in the fold. He demonstrated at the collegiate level to a be a dynamic talent with significant speed to stretch the field and big-play ability.
Ross will have a chance to prove that this upcoming season with what he has already deemed as being a “new year” for him to wipe the slate clean and establish himself as one of the rising young stars at his position. The 23-year-old has a chance to grab a major role in the passing game alongside Green as one of the primary targets.
With training camp less than a couple of weeks away, it will be his first opportunity to make a strong impression on the coaching staff to show that he deserves a significant role in the passing game to have a breakout 2018 season.
Follow Us
Subscribe