Bengals expect John Ross to make debut on Thurday night vs. Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals can certainly use some help on Thursday night, and they expected to have rookie wide receiver John Ross in uniform.

One of the worst Week 1 showings in the NFL came from the Cincinnati Bengals, as they were shut out by the Baltimore Ravens in a 20-0 loss. They can surely use some reinforcements in any and all facets, on a short week too, and rookie wide receiver John Ross is expected to make his regular season debut against the Houston Texans on Thursday night.

The Bengals took Ross ninth overall in April’s draft, and after recovering from post-NFL Combine shoulder surgery he was injured during the preseason and missed Week 1 with a sprained knee. Omar Ruiz of NFL Network reported Ross could have played against Baltimore, but he was held out as a precaution with some apparent eye on a short week heading into Week 2. With two games in a short window, it’s better to make sure Ross is 100 percent.

Ross set a combine record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash time this year, so speed is obviously his greatest asset. But he had major injuries to both knees during his college career at Washington to go along with that shoulder surgery, and those durability concerns have not been curbed at all very early in his NFL career.

On Thursday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was first to report Ross was in line to play Thursday night.

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Practices are light on a short week, but Ross was considered a full participant. Nothing will be official until each team declares inactives, but even with the possibility of a limited snap count Ross looks sure to be on the field against the Texans. Perhaps he’ll make an appearance as a kickoff and/or punt returner too.