KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NFL informed wide receiver Justyn Ross on Friday that he’s been given a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from his arrest in October, clearing the way for him to return to the Chiefs starting Monday.
The NFL placed Ross on the commissioner exempt list on Oct. 27, four days following his arrest on charges of criminal damage and domestic battery. He was released on a $2,500 bond. Last month, Ross and the Johnson County (Kansas) District Attorney’s Office reached terms on a diversion agreement, and he’s no longer facing any charges in the case.
Games that a player misses while on the commissioner exempt list are credited against their suspension, and the player forfeits their salary for those missed games. Ross was slated to earn $750,000 in base salary this season, which means the suspension will cost him $250,000 in salary.
Ross was placed on the list just before the team’s Week 7 loss at Denver, and the team’s game against Buffalo on Sunday will serve as the final game of his suspension. Ross will be eligible to return to the team Monday.
The Chiefs may receive a roster exemption for Ross that would allow them time before restoring him to the 53-player roster. For example, the Chiefs received a roster exemption for defensive end Charles Omenihu upon his return from a six-game suspension opening the 2023 season. Omenihu’s roster exemption lasted eight days before he was restored to the active roster.
The Chiefs currently have a full 53-player roster and are expected to activate linebacker Nick Bolton from injured reserve before Sunday’s game against Buffalo. That move will also require a roster spot. It’s expected the Chiefs will place a player on injured reserve — possibly safety Bryan Cook, who suffered a sprained ankle against Green Bay Sunday night — to make room for Bolton.
Ross is in his second season with the Chiefs after entering the league in 2022 as an undrafted free agent from Clemson. He spent last season on injured reserve due to a foot injury. He’s played in seven games this season with three catches on six targets for 34 yards.
