The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran wide receiver John Ross to a one-year deal after a successful tryout, the team announced Thursday. Ross, 28, announced his retirement in 2023 and has not played in an NFL game since 2021.

John Ross was selected No. 9 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL draft

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound wideout participated in Philadelphia’s rookie minicamp earlier this month for a tryout evaluation and performed well enough to earn another NFL contract.

Ross was selected ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 draft out of the University of Washington. In his final season with the Huskies in 2016, he compiled 1,100 receiving yards and a Pac-12-leading 18 touchdowns. He also won Pac-12 Player of the Year as well.

Note that Ross is 28 years old and turns 29 this November.

We’ve signed WR John Ross to a one-year deal.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/wNpO0X8D8z

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 23, 2024

Ross, a native of Long Beach, California, was considered the top receiver in the draft by scouts within the Eagles organization. However, he was off the board before they got on the clock at No. 14. As a result, the Eagles selected defensive end Derek Barnett.

Ross ran a then-record-breaking 4.22-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, but injuries in his NFL career limited him to an average of seven games played over his first four seasons (2017-20) with Cincinnati.

His most productive season was arguably 2019, when he caught 28 passes for 506 yards in eight games (all starts). Having said that, he finished the 2018 season with 21 receptions and a career-high seven touchdown receptions in 13 games (10 starts).

Ross joins a talented receiver tandem with the Philadelphia Eagles

Furthermore, he joined the New York Giants in 2021 and had 11 catches for 224 yards in 10 games. He signed a futures deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in January 2023 before announcing his retirement later that year.

Ross now has a chance to resurrect his NFL career in the City of Brotherly Love. The Eagles have one of the best receiver corps in football in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

More importantly, one of the candidates for the No. 3 receiving role, DeVante Parker, retired earlier this week. Ross could make the team since receiver depth is imperative for every Super Bowl contender.

Ross will be competing with five-year veteran Parris Campbell, rookie Ainias Smith, and a few other young wideouts for a roster spot.