Rashad

Ross

Tied 19-19 on 4th-and-6 late into the third quarter, former Chargers QB Cardale Jones connected with Ross on a 31-yard touchdown pass along the left sideline. It’s just another day for the 30-year-old ex-Redskins wideout after he closed the eight-week AAF season with the second-most receiving yards (583) and a league-high seven receiving scores before the Alliance collapsed due to a lack of funding. Ross didn’t make the Panthers’ active roster last year, but he’s obviously eyeing one more shot in the league with another successful stint elsewhere.

A 2013 undrafted free agent, Ross bounced around the back end of NFL rosters before shining for the “Arizona Hotshots” in the AAF. He posted a robust 36/583/7/16.2 line across eight games. No spring chicken — Ross turned 29 in February — he will need to light up padless practices before having a strong preseason to crack the Panthers’ 53-man roster.

The next closest to Ross in receiving touchdowns is ex-Vikings specimen Charles Johnson, who has merely two, but is busy tearing up the league in his own way with AAF-highs in receptions (29) and receiving yards (493). Ross’ six scores standout, however, because he’s hit that mark on 10 fewer targets than Johnson. A proven talent that suffered from ‘cocoon syndrome’ underneath coach Jay Gruden in Washington, Ross is sure to make an impact beyond Week 4 of the preseason this time around.

Ross has been on an absolute tear in his four weeks with the Hotshots, scorching secondaries en route to ranking second-overall in catches (19), No. 2 in receiving yards (295), and moving atop the entire league Sunday with a double-move release that allowed him to break free for his AAF-high fifth touchdown grab of the year. His elite 4.41 40-time has proven to be a tremendous asset in the league, allowing the former Redskin to either juke defenders out their cleats or burn them over the top. At this rate, the #TeamPreseason star will be back in the NFL in no time.

Ross has opened the AAF season on fire, catching nine passes for 170 yards and three scores in two games. The former Redskin made more of an impact as a returner than receiver during his two seasons in Washington, but he is showing he can be a factor on offense as well. If this keeps up, Ross will likely earn his way onto a training camp roster.

Ross has been the best offensive player in the league through 1.5 weeks -- four teams are still left to play in Week 2 on Sunday. The 29-year-old enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Redskins in 2015-2016 and looks to be earning himself another shot at an NFL job if he keeps this up for the 2-0 Hotshots. Ross scored an 11-yard touchdown on Saturday, getting open over the middle, making a defender miss in space, and then out-running the rest of the defense to the right side of the end zone. Ross isn’t big at 6'/180 but has electric speed and an ability to win over the top.

A big-time contributor of #TeamPreseason in the NFL, Ross was easily the AAF’s most-explosive wideout for Week 1. 29-year-old Ross went undrafted out of Arizona State in 2013 and spent time with nine different organizations from 2013-2018. He’s appeared in 22 career NFL games, catching nine balls for 192 yards and one touchdown with the Redskins in 2015-2016. Ross spent last offseason in Cardinals camp. Perhaps he’ll get another look this summer.