NFL places Chiefs WR Justyn Ross on commissioner's exempt list after arrest, per reports
The NFL placed Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross on the commissioner’s exempt list, according to multiple reports Friday.
With the designation, Ross is not allowed to practice or attend games. It's a form of paid leave after the 23-year-old was arrested Monday and eventually charged with two misdemeanors of domestic battery and criminal damage.
He was apprehended Monday in Shawnee, Kansas. The initial felony charge was for damage more than $25,000, per multiple outlets, including KMBC. Hours before his scheduled Tuesday afternoon hearing, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office booking report was amended to a charge for damage of less than $1,000, which is a misdemeanor, according to KCTV.
The items in the property damage charge include a laptop, a computer monitor, an iPhone, a gold bracelet and a car key, police told ESPN.
Ross pleaded not guilty to the two charges during his first appearance in Johnson County District Court on Tuesday, according to the Kansas City Star.
He was subsequently released from custody on $2,500 bond. He was also given stipulations, including no contact with the alleged victim, no alcohol or drug usage, and no firearms.
The battery charge against Ross is defined as "knowingly causing physical contact with a person with whom the offender is involved or has been involved in a dating relationship or a family or household member, when done in a rude, insulting or angry manner."
Under the league's Personal Conduct Policy, misdemeanor charges and allegations of violence do not exclude someone from paid leave. He will continue to receive his $750,000 salary.
When Ross made the Chiefs' 53-man roster this season, it seemed to be the start of a potential comeback story. He was a star during his freshman year at Clemson, but sustained a neck injury that sidelined him for a season. He went undrafted and missed the 2022 season with the Chiefs after undergoing foot surgery.
Ross has three catches for 34 yards in seven games this season.
