Report: Bengals decline 5th-year option on Ross

The Cincinnati Bengals have informed receiver John Ross they're declining the fifth-year option in his contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Ross is now only under contract with Cincinnati for the 2020 season.

Ross has disappointed since vaulting up draft boards after setting a new 40-yard dash record with a time of 4.22 seconds. The Bengals used the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft on him, and Ross has rarely seen the field since.

He didn't record a catch during his rookie season while battling injuries and only appearing in three games. He rebounded with seven touchdowns on just 21 receptions in 2018, but then Ross scored only three times on 28 grabs over eight games in 2019.

Ross is scheduled to play out the 2020 campaign on a base salary of $2.7 million.

The Bengals will field a new-look offense as well, with No. 1 draft pick Joe Burrow fronting an attack featuring veteran A.J. Green and rookie wideout Tee Higgins.

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