Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium has been a dreaded place for Ravens return specialist B.J. Sams and, at the same time, a source of opportunity for Cory Ross.

A year ago, Sams had his season ended a month early when he broke his ankle during a loss to the Bengals on Nov. 30. On Monday, Sams suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament knee injury during a 27-20 loss to Cincinnati.

In both instances, it has created a roster spot for Ross. This time, Ross was signed off the team’s practice squad, just two weeks after the team cut him. Ross could split the team’s return duties with the team’s third-round draft pick, Yamon Figurs, against the New York Jets on Sunday.

“You can’t help but feel good,” Ross said. “I’ll get in there and hopefully be able help the team. At the same time, B.J. Sams was just coming off an injury and to hurt himself in the same place, it’s hard. He and I became good friends. Hopefully, he’ll come back.”

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Ross was inactive for the first twelve games of the last season before replacing Sams last season. Now, he’s just happy to be back in a Ravens uniform. The team cut him Sept. 1, after he led the Ravens in rushing during the preseason. He was signed to the five-man practice squad the next day.

“Whether it’s me or Yamon, we’ve just to make sure we step in the B.J. shoes,” Ross said. “He was on the verge of a great year.”

Figurs, who was inactive for the game against the Bengals, said he is also ready.

“I feel excited and a little pressure,” Figurs said. “There’s just anxiety getting prepared for it.”

Ravens coach Brian Billick was non-committal about which player would take Sams’ spot Sunday.

“We’ve got Yamon and Cory Ross coming up,” Billick said. “We’ll determine at the end of the week how we want to proceed. It could be a combination of both.”

Billick has another tempting option: safety Ed Reed.

Reed returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown after Sams left the game Monday. Reed has eight different returns for touchdowns throughout his career, but Monday was his first on a punt.

“Every time I do it, both [general manager] Ozzie [Newsome] and [defensive coordinator] Rex [Ryan] cringe,” Billick said. “Obviously, it’s great to have him back there if we need him.”

— mpalmer@baltimoreexaminer.com