Clemson star receiver Justyn Ross will miss the 2020 season, and his football career could be in jeopardy.
Ross has a "congenital fusion" in his spine that he's had since birth, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told reporters Monday. Ross is slated to have surgery on Friday.
The condition was discovered on an X-ray after Ross felt stinger-like symptoms during spring practice.
"Nobody to this point knew that he had that, and he's had no issues his whole career. Because of the situation when they did this X-ray, it showed up. Very concerned," Swinney said. "And he had a little bit of a bulging disc as well. And that is an issue. There's been many people play football with a surgical fusion. That happens a lot of times.
"But we don't know of one that's had a surgical and a congenital" issue, Swinney said.
Ross missed Clemson's final two workouts of the spring _ a practice on March 11 and a scrimmage on March 13. The March 13 workout was Clemson's final one of the spring as the final six spring practices were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Phenix City, Alabama native had 66 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He was first on the team in receptions and second in yards.
"He will not be able to play this fall. If he was a football coach or accountant or whatever he'd probably be back at it in six weeks. But he's a football player and so there's obviously a lot more involved here when it comes to him being able to play the game that he loves," Swinney said.
Will Ross be able to play football again? That's not clear at the moment.
"There's no guarantees with anything," Swinney said. "Certainly very hopeful that this surgery will go well and take him out of harm's way as far as risk of paralysis or anything like that. And then he can hopefully by January he's doing great and he's got a decision to make. ... It's a very unique situation."
Ross had 1,000 yards as a freshman and was expected to take an even more prominent role with Tee Higgins moving on to the NFL.
