Bengals WR Ross confirms trade request

Little-used Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross confirmed Friday that he asked the team to deal him before the Tuesday trade deadline.

Ross, a former first-round draft pick, has appeared in one play total over the past five games for Cincinnati (1-5-1).

The 25-year-old receiver tweeted, "It's not a secret that i have requested a trade. Trade me if this how y'all feel. I'm healthy and eager to play. I know I can be productive. It's hard to love something when your not actually participating in it. Believe me, its not football that i don't like."

Ross has yet to fulfill the hype he generated coming out of the University of Washington in 2017, when he ran a 4.22 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, still the record since the event went to electronic timing in 1999. He was drafted ninth overall but played in just three games as a rookie in 2017 due to knee and shoulder injuries plus contests when he was a healthy scratch. Ross had no receptions that year.

The next two years, Ross logged a total of 49 receptions for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns while appearing in 21 games (18 starts). The lack of production prompted the Bengals to turn down Ross' 2021 option ahead of the 2020 season.

Ross started the 2020 opener, and he had two catches for 17 yards in the Bengals' 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The following week, he made no receptions while seeing limited action against the Cleveland Browns. The only time he has been on the field since was one play vs. the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 18.

--Field Level Media