Players’ journies in the NFL vary widely depending on their status upon entering the league — from the highly touted collegiate stars to the less heralded breakout talents. The latter group’s path is often defined by their performances in training camp, where they have a chance to secure a spot on a regular-season roster to defy the odds and carve out a career in pro football.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a few notable players attempting to do just that at Missouri Western State University, where the team has been hard at work preparing for a champion defense in 2023.
Justyn Ross has been a standout in training camp and seems ahead of the curve in his effort to remain healthy and debut for the team in a preseason game. He spoke with reporters following Wednesday’s practice about the mentorship he’s getting from veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which seems to be aiding in his development in St. Joseph.
“[Valdes-Scantling] has [made] a great impact. I look at MVS [Marquez Valdes-Scantling] as a big brother for sure,” Ross explained. “He’s always that guy that’s going to want you to finish [each] rep; he’s always going to want you to finish the catch and everything like that, so I look at MVS as a big brother for sure.”
During his successful career at Clemson, Ross was a starter and primary receiving option. He isn’t afraid of any challenge, and with Valdes-Scantling at his side to guide him into a breakout role in Andy Reid’s offense, it seems that Ross is carrying a head of steam into the Chiefs’ preseason, where he will seek to prove that he belongs on a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
