The Cincinnati Bengals can't catch a break. John Ross is part of the story.
First, rookie left tackle Jonah Williams went down and will be out for the season. Then, perennial Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green suffered a foot injury that could sideline him for a while. Now, John Ross — a perpetually injured receiver — joins his teammates in the training room. A hamstring injury will put Ross out for two weeks, according to Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson.
Ross, the record-holder for 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine (4.22), has dealt with a bevy of injuries throughout his first two seasons in the NFL. The former No. 9 overall pick missed his rookie season opener with a knee injury. That injury lingered; he missed three games before the halfway point of his rookie campaign. Later he was put on the injured reserve list for a shoulder ailment. In 2018, he missed three games due to a strained groin.
SportsInjuryPredictor.com flags Ross as a high-risk injury player. The site estimates he has a 58.9% chance of re-injury in 2019 and a projected three games missed.
The underlying factor of both Green and Ross injuries is that other receivers will get reps. Tyler Boyd, as the roster currently stands with Green out, is the No. 1 option following his recent contract extension. The leading players who will benefit from increased reps include: Alex Erickson, Cody Core, Josh Malone, Hunter Sharp, Auden Tate, Stanley Morgan Jr., Ventell Bryant, and Damion Willis. Additional snaps to the eight previously mentioned should give Zac Taylor a better grasp of his depth chart at receiver.
Luckily, Ross's injury likely won't stop him from playing in front of an audience. With a two-week timetable to return, he should be available for the second preseason bout on August 15 versus the Washington Redskins. Don't be surprised if the Bengals' staff handles his injury with caution.
Follow Us
Subscribe