Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross has been placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list after a Monday arrest over an alleged domestic battery incident.
While on the list, Ross will not be able to practice or play in Chiefs games.
The 23-year-old was arrested Monday in a suburb of Kansas City and charged Tuesday with one count of domestic battery with no priors and one count of criminal damage to property totaling less than $1,000, the Kansas City Star reported.
Both charges are misdemeanors, and he pleaded not guilty to both.
According to the Star, the alleged victim said Ross had been “dragging her through the house and has torn up the house.”
The receiver was also accused of damaging the victim’s laptop, iPhone, car key, computer monitor and a gold bracelet.
The Star reported that the alleged victim “is or has been in a dating relationship” with Ross.
Head coach Andy Reid addressed the news at his Friday press conference.
“We’ll just let it play out, that’s the way it goes,” Reid said. “That’s what that list is for until all the information is gathered.”
When asked if Reid was surprised about Ross’ appearance on the list, the head coach said he did not want to speculate.
“I’m not here to judge on that,” Reid said. “You go through the process in these situations, they’re all different and so you let it play out. That’s how we’re set up here in this country and in the NFL that way.”
According to the NFL’s Player Personnel Policy Manual, only the commissioner has the authority to put a player on the list and determine how long they’ll be on the list.
“Exempt List is a special player status available to clubs only in unusual circumstances,” the policy reads. “The List includes those players who have been declared by the Commissioner to be temporarily exempt from counting within the Active List limit. Only the Commissioner has the authority to place a player on the Exempt List; clubs have no such authority, and no exemption, regardless of circumstances, is automatic.”
Ross will be paid while on the list.
He has three catches for 34 yards this season for Kansas City.
Ross is expected back in court on Dec. 4, per multiple outlets.