CINCINNATI – Is John Ross a bust or just busted?
The lost season of the Bengals' first-round draft choice got even more bizarre Thursday.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis revealed that the once-heralded wide receiver, who missed most of the season with injuries, had been hiding a second shoulder injury from coaches in hopes of getting to play.
It wasn’t the right shoulder injury that Ross had surgery on before the draft, but a newer injury to his left shoulder, Lewis said.
Asked Marvin Lewis about rookie WR John Ross shoulder on @SiriusXMNFL & he said it's the "other shoulder" and that Ross had been concealing injury hoping to play before finally "coming clean" with team.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) December 7, 2017
After Ross revealed the injury Wednesday, the team put him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Lewis made the disclosure during his Thursday morning show with Ross Tucker on SiriusXM.
Whether Ross turns out to be a first-round bust or the next Jerry Rice, you can be sure the Bengals never foresaw anything like this when they drafted him out of Washington. There were warnings that he was injury-prone, but he also came with the tag of "Fastest Player in the NFL" after running the fastest 40-yard dash in combine history.
Ross finished his rookie season with zero catches and just 12 yards gained on an end around. And he fumbled at the end of the play.
John Ross headed to IR. He’s 1 of 5 first-round WRs in NFL history to finish with 0 catches as a rookie.
This was his only touch: pic.twitter.com/pp4yxEYw7Q
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) December 6, 2017
Ross was on the field for just 17 plays in three games due to a knee injury along with his shoulder problems.
Ross also found himself in Lewis’ doghouse for cutting off a pass route that Lewis said could have led to a touchdown.
John Ross is used more in Madden then he is in real life.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) December 5, 2017
