Josh

Ross

Forsythe will miss at least four games, five if you include his absence from Week 7. Seattle claimed linebacker Josh Ross off waivers from the Ravens in a corresponding move. Ross appeared in seven games with the Ravens this year and played exclusively on special teams.

Ross (6'0"/227) is a tad undersized and not very athletic, posting a very rough 1.72 relative athletic score. Still, Ross was able to be productive in college by knowing the run game well and playing with an unquenchable fire each and every down. There’s no hesitation in him, which is why his run defense and pass rush grades were solid, but his lack of athleticism and tendency to bite on play-action does make his coverage suspect. He also had two seasons where missed over 14% of his tackles. That being said, he moves better than his numbers would suggest, and he will undoubtedly work on his game as hard as he can. He also joins a Baltimore defense led by his college defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

It was announced by the team on Thursday that Ross (6'2/232) was no longer with the team, but why he is no longer with the team wasn’t exactly made clear. With that being said, Aaron McMann of Michigan Live shared in an article that Ross has already accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, which is a strong indicator that he is on the verge of going pro. Last season with the Wolverines, Ross totaled 95 tackles while forcing 16 quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus. He drew an overall grade of 63.3 on Pro Football Focus this season.

Ross (6'2/224) did not return in Saturday’s win, but will reportedly be fine according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh said to consider ross Probably to play on Saturday against Wisconsin.

Ross (6'2/232) hasn’t appeared in a game since September 21, when he was injured during the Wolverines’ loss at Wisconsin. While the junior linebacker has been cleared to return to action, he’s spent the last two games on the Michigan sideline in full uniform but has not played. Harbaugh said on Monday that he wants to redshirt Ross, who has appeared in three games this season. The linebacker can appear in one more and not lose a season of eligibility, so the plan is to do just that. Whether Ross plays against Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State or Michigan’s bowl game remains to be seen.

Ross (6'2/232) suffered the injury during Michigan’s Sept. 21 loss at Wisconsin, and he did not play in Saturday’s win over Rutgers. In three games the junior linebacker has accounted for 18 total tackles, with eight being of the solo variety. Sophomore Cam McGrone, who played well against Rutgers, would be in line to make his second consecutive start at inside linebacker if Ross is unable to play.

Ross (6'2/232) is currently on the sideline in street clothes, a clear sign that his afternoon has come to a close. The junior linebacker accounted for three total tackles (two solo, one assist) while on the field.

Ross (6'2/225) had a nice season in coverage, but Pro Football Focus also handed a solid 78.9 run-defense grade, too. He’s an all-around play-maker for the Wolverines and he’ll be asked to do more with Devin Bush now in the NFL. Ross is a candidate for 50-75 total tackles in 2019 and there’s a non-zero chance he enters the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ross (6'2/225) figures to be fine in the long term, but the tangible offshoot of his injury is that it opened up spring reps for Jordan Anthony, who made the most of his opportunity and has a shot at significant in-season snaps with a strong August camp. As for junior Ross, ESPN’s Andrea Adelson forwarded him in March as the most likely candidate to take over for star linebacker Devin Bush. This past season, Ross registered 54 tackles (5.5 for loss), a sack and two passes defensed in 13 games.

As Adelson writes, Bush was extremely productive for the Wolverines, but he also was one of the defensive leaders who also made the defensive calls. Ross (6'2/225) has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two years with the Wolverines, and he was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection thanks to his work as a reserve and special teams contributor. Replacing a star like Bush is asking a lot, but Ross could make the loss more tolerable.