The Cincinnati Bengals will not pick up the fifth-year option on wide receiver John Ross’ rookie contract, meaning he will eligible to become a free agent following the 2020 season, multiple outlets reported Saturday.
Ross will make $2.8 million in base salary in 2020. Had the team picked up his option, it would have been worth more than $15 million — guaranteed only for injury — in 2021.
The Bengals selected the 25-year-old Ross ninth overall out of Washington in the 2017 NFL Draft, hoping his speed would complement star wideout A.J. Green. Ross set the NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash record in 2017, posting a 4.22-second time. But his career on the field has been much slower to develop, thanks in large part to injuries.
In his three seasons with the Bengals, Ross has played in only 24 of 48 possible games, starting 19 of them.
Last season he got off to a great start with 158 and 112 yards in the first two games — the first 100-yard receiving games of his career. But he broke the sternoclavicular joint in his chest against Pittsburgh in Week 4 and missed the next eight games. Ross later revealed that doctors told him the injury could have been life-threatening.
In all, Ross has 49 receptions for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.
The Bengals selected wide receiver Tee Higgins out of Clemson with the first pick in the second round of last week’s draft. The selected LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall selection.
