NFL suspends former Alabama prep star for 6 games

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross has been suspended for six regular-season games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the league announced on Friday.

The former Alabama prep star was suspended for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.

Because he has missed the past five games on the Commissioner Exempt List while the NFL evaluated his situation, Ross will need to serve only one more game before he can return to the Chiefs. Ross’ suspension will be lifted on Monday, the day after Kansas City plays the Buffalo Bills.

The NFL placed Ross on the Commissioner Exempt List on Oct. 27, three days after the former Central-Phenix City standout entered two not-guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges in Johnson County (Kansas) District Court. At his arraignment, Ross was charged with domestic battery with no priors and criminal damage of less than $1,000.

Ross had been arrested on Oct. 23 in Shawnee, Kansas. After the arraignment, Ross was released on a $2,500 personal-recognizance bond.

Ross was granted diversion in the case, and the charges will be dropped when he completes the court-approved program.

The Commissioner Exempt List is not the same as being suspended by the league commissioner. A player on the Commissioner Exempt List continues to be paid, but he’s prohibited from practicing or playing until the legal matter that prompted the action is concluded to the NFL’s satisfaction.

Because of that, Ross will have to return the five game checks that he received while on the list to comply with the six-game suspension imposed on Friday. The suspension will cost Ross almost $323,000 in missed pay.

Ross is in his second season with the Chiefs, although he did not play during his first campaign. Ross joined the Chiefs last year as an undrafted rookie from Clemson. But coming off foot surgery, he spent the 2022 campaign on injured reserve.

This season, Ross has been on the field for 81 offensive snaps and 63 special-teams plays in seven games. He has three receptions for 34 yards.

At Central-Phenix City, Ross earned ASWA first-team All-State recognition in 2016 and 2017 after being a second-team pick in 2015. As a senior, Ross caught 37 passes for 730 yards and 13 touchdowns and returned 14 punts for a 27.4-yard average and two touchdowns.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.