Bills take first step in potential Justyn Ross revival after Chiefs release

It was easy to wonder if the book on Justyn Ross was closed following his recent departure from the Kansas City Chiefs. As it turns out, a new chapter might be coming soon as Ross is earning interest away from Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs released Ross before the start of training camp in St. Joseph at the request of the receiver. Coming into his fourth training camp with the team, it was clear he wanted a fresh start and general manager Brett Veach gave it to him.

The Buffalo Bills are the first team with publicly known interest in Ross since his release. Ross had a tryout with the team one week into camp on Wednesday.

The writing for Ross was on the wall this offseason after failing to make an impact in his first three seasons with the team. That's not to say his stint was a bust or failure, since being an undrafted free agent in the first place made him a roster longshot. In fact, his ability to stick around K.C. was a testament to his potential and hard work.

A new chapter for Justyn Ross might be around the corner.

Unfortunately, Ross has also carried disproportional expectations from those on the outside relative to his draft status. It comes with the territory after having become a household name at the collegiate level given his stardom with the Clemson Tigers and their national championship climb.

The Chiefs signed Ross shortly after the 2022 NFL Draft and all eyes were on Ross in camp as fans wondered if he would prove healthy enough to make the roster. Ross's fall was entirely injury-related after undergoing surgery for neck/spine issues, and NFL teams removed him from their draft boards.

Given that Ross couldn't make his presence felt for a struggling Chiefs offense in 2023 and 2024, it was clear that he would get crowded out in 2025 with Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown returning from injuries. The import of Jalen Royals as a fourth-round pick also made for tougher competition, and Tyquan Thornton's buzz in offseason training activities pushed Ross further to the fringes.

Ross only caught 6 passes for 53 yards in three seasons with the Chiefs, but he did earn two Super Bowl rings during that stint. Now he can bring part of that organizational culture with him to a new roster as he tries to extend his career in the NFL.