John Ross was a healthy scratch for Weeks 3 and 4 and has since been listed with an illness three times. Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals WR John Ross tweets about trade request, story he doesn't like football

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/30/20

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross took to Twitter on Friday to explain his side following a report "that suggested a team source wasn't sure if the speedy receiver still liked football," according to Ben Baby of ESPN.

It’s not a secret that i have requested a trade. Trade me if this how y’all feel. I’m healthy and eager to play. I know I can be productive. It’s hard to love something when your not actually participating in it. Believe me, its not football that i don’t like. https://t.co/IlUg270jbI
— Hank Moody (@WatchJRoss) October 30, 2020

The 24-year-old has become an anonymous figure in the Cincinnati offense who hasn't tallied a catch since the season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Ross hasn't played in three of the Bengals' last four games and, per Baby, is doubtful for Sunday's meeting with the Tennessee Titans because of an undisclosed illness.

"He's sick," coach Zac Taylor said of Ross when speaking with reporters on Friday. "His stomach bothers him. It is what it is. He's listed with (an) illness and he's trying to work through it."

Ross was a healthy scratch for Weeks 3 and 4 and has since been listed with an illness three times.

The Bengals declined Ross' fifth-year option in May, but NFL insider Adam Caplan is reporting the Bengals would rather lose the receiver in free agency than trade him for pennies on the dollar this fall:

Conditional 5th or 6th rounder would fair compensation for him. Clock is ticking toward Tuesday. https://t.co/eAeshz7HnF
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) October 30, 2020

A first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Ross has accumulated 51 receptions for 733 yards and 10 touchdowns in 27 regular-season games. He scored seven of those 10 TDs during the 2018 campaign when he played in 13 games, a career-high.

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