Having said that, Ridley is under contract through 2027. Ridley missed the second half of the 2025 season due to a broken fibula. Still, he was quite underwhelming when he did play.

In seven games, he had 17 catches for 303 yards and no touchdowns. He was averaging a career-low 43.4 yards per game. Now, at 32, the Titans will continue to trust him, though they know they can’t rely on him.

The Titans WR room is nothing to wow at, but has potential

Tennessee splashed the cash by bringing Wan’Dale Robinson. However, if Robinson is the answer to take the team to a whole new level, then it’s not a team that poses as dangerous to the rest of the NFL. Robinson is talented, but he is nowhere near the elite. Ridley had the argument to be there, but that was three years ago.

Second-year wideouts Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike will have to step up. None of them actually lit the NFL on fire during their rookie years, but both showed huge flashes of talent. Ayomanor had 515 yards and four touchdowns in 41 receptions. Dike had 48 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns. However, Dike also had an NFL-leading two punt-return touchdowns.

Cam Ward needs to step up

Just as the rookie wideouts, rookie quarterback Cam Ward, showed glimpses of talent worthy of a first overall pick. However, it was also clear he needs help. Ridley has to be that help, he is the veteran.

Still, Ward has to improve on one singular aspect: ball security. Ward had seven interceptions and a league-worst 11 fumbles last year. He needs to protect and deliver the ball. Also, that will help with him improving his 59.8% completion. Tennessee has talent, but also ways to go before it is a playoff contender.

Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans are not one team with plenty of options, except on wide receivers. Hence, when Calvin Ridley got injured during the game vs. Las Vegas Raiders, the quarterback knew he would have to use his other weapons but, who are they?

After Ridley, rookie Elic Ayomanor is the one with more upside. However, veterans like Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson are very helpful. Further down the pecking order it’s fourth-round rookie Chimere Dike too.

The reports say Ridley suffered a hamstring injury. However, the team has other options to rely on while he heals. For Cam Ward, it’s good to know that the team surrounded him with talent.

The Titans offense is still on the scope

While the weapons are numerous, the offense hasn’t been great. The Titans are not a fearsome unit when it comes to scoring. Despite all the talent and having Cam Ward, the first overall pick in the Draft, there is something lacking… In fact, a lackluster offense like the Raiders‘ looking so much better is not great.

It’s time to have a conversation about head coach Brian Callahan. He was signed by the Titans for his offensive genius and creative approach to the game. However, Tennessee is all but genius or creative. They lack the ‘it‘ factor and their situational football is among the very worst in the NFL.

Has Cam Ward been good?

While he hasn’t lit the world on fire with his play, Ward has shown plenty of glimpses of his talent. He has a good long ball, strong arm, manages many arm angles and is mobile.

He needs to improve on his decision-making, speed on progressions, and accuracy. However, the scheme doesn’t help him much, nor does the offensive line. Ward needs a better coach to really show his true potential.

The Tennessee Titans have high hopes for their new quarterback, the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, Cam Ward. However, for him to deliver what’s expected of him, his weapons need to be good. One of those tasked with catching passes from the rookie has endorsed him in a big way recently.

Calvin Ridley will be the best weapon for Cam Ward. A fast, prolific route runner with safe hands, Ridley is a quarterback’s dream. He was asked about Cam Ward by Turron Davenport of ESPN. “I could feel something in me,” Ridley said. “It was like, this kid’s good and I got to be good. I can’t fall behind. I got to be a help, got to be a big help cause it’s time to dominate.”

That’s a big promise by a well-respected wide receiver in the NFL. Also, it’s a big statement regarding Ward’s skills. The quarterback is a position that makes or breaks a team, and according to Ridley, Ward is on a good path to stardom.

The respect is reciprocated by Ward

Ward has also been vocal about how much he loves having Ridley. Ward stated that he’s never thrown to a wideout that has the “moves and cuts” that Ridley possesses.

Being in the Titans has driven the spotlight away from Ridley. However, his numbers are very good. Ridley has posted two 1,000-yard seasons back to back and has scored 12 touchdowns in the past couple of years. The guy is a menace.

Who else is poised for a big season on the Titans offense?

Besides Ridley, there are a couple of names that are destined to be of great help for this offense. Tennessee also brought veteran wideouts Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson. Lockett, specifically, should thrive in the intermediate level of the field.

Not to mention, they have a very good running back in Tony Pollard. He is a dual threat as Pollard also knows how to create damage from his pass-catching ability. Pollard ended 2024 with 1317 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns.

According to reports from ESPN and The Athletic, the Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars are the two teams still in contention to sign free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

That means the 29-year-old has to choose between his former team, which has recently acquired Jones, or the franchise that has just traded the fourth-year quarterback. Jones is expected to be Trevor Lawrence’s backup though, but it’s still a funny turn of events.

Ridley, the kind of weapon Jones lacked at Patriots in 2023

Needless to say, the Alabama product would have used Ridley’s presence in Foxborough last year. The Fort Lauderdale native made 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns with the Jaguars in 2023, being a reliable target for Lawrence in a rollercoaster year for the team.

Jones, on the other hand, completed 64.9 of his passes for 2,120 yards, with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions before being benched for Bailey Zappe halfway through 2023.

That season sealed his fate in Foxborough, as not even Bill Belichick‘s departure meant a second chance for Jones in a Patriots uniform. While it’s true his last two seasons were disappointing, Jones did make an impression as a rookie. Now it’s uncertain what the future holds for him in the league, as he’s already heading for a bench role at just 25, backing up a signal-caller from his class.

Ridley to choose between familiar faces at Jags or intriguing rebuild at Pats

Ridley is a top wideout on the market this offseason, but it’s fair to wonder whether things would have been different for Jones had the Pats landed a player of that caliber a year or two ago.

Either way, it remains to be seen where does Ridley ultimate decide to play. He already knows what to expect from the Jaguars, who have already made a big move by signing Gabe Davis from the Bills.

The Patriots, on the other hand, are heading into 2024 with a new-look offense. Jerod Mayo’s hiring as HC was followed by Alex Van Pelt’s arrival as OC, with Jones leaving the team alongside WR DeVante Parker and TE Mike Gesicki.

Jacoby Brissett has returned to Foxboro expected to serve as a bridge quarterback with the Patriots probably using their third overall pick in this year’s draft on a top QB prospect.

Last year, the Jaguars traded with the Atlanta Falcons for Calvin Ridley. Unfortunately, the wide receiver was suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy, causing him to miss the 2022 season.

After the season ended, Ridley requested reinstatement from the league, and his petition was approved. Now, the Jaguars will have an elite wide receiver, and he is set to help the team compete for the AFC South title this year.

Calvin Ridley’s teammate warns the entire NFL about his new partner

Trevor Lawrence will have a new target on the field in the upcoming season. Calvin Ridley arrived in Jacksonville last year, but an indefinite suspension for gambling prevented him from participating in his first campaign in Florida.

Ridley joins a locker room full of talent. He’s set to be a key player in their offense alongside great receivers such as Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Jamal Agnew, among others.

Agnew knows that the Jaguars have a great group of receivers. The former Detroit Lions player praised Calvin Ridley, who he thinks is going to be a menace for the entire league.

“We’ve got an explosive offense, obviously we’ve got Kirk, Zay [Jones], Evan [Engram], Travis [Etienne], myself, and then obviously Trevor [Lawrence] playing quarterback,” Agnew said, per talkSPORT. “But add Calvin into that offense off of what we built last year already? The league gotta watch out.”

There has been a rapid increase in suspensions lately for this specific topic. The NFL gambling policy has been set for a while, but it made headlines this year following a wave of reported investigations.

Calvin Ridley was a rising wide receiver in the league when he played for the Atlanta Falcons. However, that growth was stopped by a suspension. Last year he didn’t compete because he broke those rules.

He was then traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, even before his indefinite suspension was lifted. Ridley is already allowed to play again, something that other players like Jameson Williams won’t be able to do for some time for being suspended for gambling. That’s why he shared a big advice.

Calvin Ridley gives advice on the NFL gambling policy

Tom Brady was part of the conversation about gambling in the last couple of days. Not because he was involved in any trouble of that sort, but because he represents a trustworthy voice that could help players. Someone who also offered some words about this subject was the wide receiver in an interview with Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union.

“It bugs me a little because my NFL buddies didn’t look at me and say, ‘Aw man, hell, that’s serious’. I wish they would’ve looked at me and said, ‘Wow, they did him like that? I hope it doesn’t happen to me’. Because that’s what I would’ve done. If I would’ve seen one of my NFL buddies get slammed like that, I would’ve been a little bit afraid and watching myself. But you know, it is what it is, they have to learn the hard way like I did. It’s gonna be alright though”, Ridley said.

The player also shared more about the whole process: “I didn’t know how serious it was until I left that interview. It’s just schooling the guys on not to do it. It’s not worth it at all. I really think we don’t understand how serious it is. We kind of go over it and then it’s gone. It’s a real serious offense. You don’t want to do it, mess with the integrity of the game and your job. Just stay away from it if you can”, he explained later.

When he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2021, Calvin Ridley made a huge mistake. The wide receiver violated thethe league’s gambling policy and the NFL decided to suspend him indefinitely for it.

In 2023, Ridley was able to apply for his reinstatement. He was traded last season to the Jaguars and now the wide receiver made a promise to his new team that shows he’s ready to play.

Calvin Ridley makes bold promise for his first season with Jaguars

Almost five years have passed since Calvin Ridley heard his name during the 1st round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was seen as a promising wide receiver, but troubles arrived for him in 2021 that changed his career.

While playing for the Atlanta Falcons, Ridley violated the league’s gambling policy. The NFL reacted immediately and suspended him. He missed the 2022 season with the Jaguars, who traded for him then, but now he’s back and ready to prove what he’s capable of.

“Right now, I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt — mentally and physically,” Ridley wrote on a Players’ Tribune article. “On the field, I’m flying. Believe me, I’m flying. That GPS band don’t lie. On my daughter’s name, if I’m healthy? With Trevor Lawrence? I’m giving Jacksonville 1,400 yards a season, period.

“I want to thank the Jaguars for showing faith in me, and understanding me as a human being who made a mistake. It feels so good to be back home in Florida, where this dream started, with a clean slate. But also I want to make it clear that I don’t have a bad word to say about the Falcons or the city of Atlanta. That’s still my second home, and where my daughter was born. I tried to give y’all everything I had, until the wheels came off. It’s all love, forever.”

Ridley recognized his mistake, which cost him not playing the 2022 season.“I f—ed up,” Ridley wrote. “I’m not here to sugarcoat anything. In 2021, I made the worst mistake of my life by gambling on football.

“I paid the price, believe me. I’ve seen all the jokes. I’ve seen all the hate. And I can shoulder all of that, no problem. All I want is for people to understand that, when I made those bets, there was a hell of a lot more going on with me.”

Jacksonville is suffering in this 2022 campaign. After eiht games, the Jaguars are in third position of AFC South and it doesn’t look like they are going to enter the Playoffs, so they are looking forward to begin the next season.

But even when they are not candidates this year, the Jaguars are making some moves thinking ahead. Now, Jacksonville traded with the Falcons for Calvin Ridley, a player that might not even play in 2023.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Calvin Ridley’s trade details

Calvin Ridley is undoubtedly a very good wide receiver, but unfortunately he was not able to play the 2022 NFL season. He was investigated for betting, which of course is prohibited by the league.

After a long investigation, the NFL determined that Calvin Ridley could not play in 2021 and the whole 2022 season. His punishment doesn’t end like this as it could increase to being suspended also in 2023, but he could appeal it by February 16 of the next year.

Of course Jacksonville was aware of this situation before trading for him. As it is uncertain if the wide receiver will be reinstated by that date, Jaguars and Falcons agreed to some conditions for this move:

• Jaguars get WR Calvin Ridley.
• Falcons get a 2023 5th-round pick and a conditional 2024 4th that can rise. (Conditions are:If Calvin Ridley gets reinstated bye a date, it’s worth a 2023 5th, otherwise it’s for a 6th. If he makes the team in 2024, it’s at least a 4th. If he hits play-time milestone, it’s a 3rd. If Jacksonvilleget a long-term done with him, it’s a 2nd, per Ian Rapoport)

“NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today (Monday, March 7) suspended Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season”. According to league: “The activity took place during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team and was away from the club’s facility on the non-football illness list”.

In a notifying letter, commissioner Rodger Goodell wrote to Ridley about his suspension: “For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions”.

Funniest memes and reactions

On Twitter, Internet users had no mercy for the Falcons wide receiver and these are some of the funniest memes and reactions:

Ridleystepped away from football in October last year citing mental health issues. “These past few weeks have been very challenging and as much as I’d like to be on the field competing with my teammates, I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing,” he announced on Twitter.

It’s been months since that happened but, even if he planned to be back this year, it won’t happen. Here, find out why the National Football Leaguehas suspended Ridley at least for this season.

Why did the NFL suspend Calvin Ridley?

The NFL has announced that Calvin Ridley is suspended for the 2022 season and maybe beyond for betting on NFL games in 2021 after he left the team. According to the release, Ridley did the activity inlate November when he was not with the team anymore and away from the Falcons’ facility.

“NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today suspended Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season,” aleague statementread. “The activity took place during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team and was away from the club’s facility on the non-football illness list.”

According to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, the NFL noticed that Calvin Ridley placed multi-legged parlay bets involving three, five,and eightgames that included the Falcons to win but with no involvement from any team member.“A league investigation uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way,” the statement continued. “Nor was there evidence suggesting any awareness by coaches, staff, teammates, or other players of his betting activity.“

The statement adds that Calvin Ridley may petition for reinstatement to the NFL no sooner than February15, 2023. In line with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, he may appeal the suspension within three days.

Meanwhile, the Falcons have also released a statement shortly after the NFL’s announcement.“We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on Feb. 9,” the Falcons statement reads. “We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice and support the league’s findings and actions. We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.”

Calvin Ridley reacts to the NFL suspension

Shortly after the news were spread all over the Internet, Calvin Ridleytook to his Twitter profileto respond to the NFL’s decision with a series of tweets. Here’s what he had to say:

Teams showed interested in trading forRidley before the suspension

Adam Schefter also reported that many teams around the league have approached the Falcons to discuss the possibility of trading for the wide receiver but Atlanta rejected to have any talks knowing the issues Ridley could be involved in.

“Multiple NFL teams reached out to the Falcons in recent weeks to inquire about trading for Calvin Ridley, and each time, Atlanta declined to enter into any talks out of good faith, knowing the issues in store for their standout wide receiver, per sources.”

How many NFL players were suspended for gambling?

Calvin Ridley was not the first player the NFL has suspended for betting on games. As a matter of fact, he’s the fifth case. Prior to him, the NFL has suspended Alex Karras andPaul Hornung in 1963, Art Schlichter in 1983, and Josh Shaw in 2019.

In 2020 Ridley had a bounce back season with 9 receiving touchdowns and over 1,000 receiving yards in 15 games. Then in 2021 after 5 games the Atlanta Falcons and Ridley announced that Ridley was stepping away from the game to deal with mental health issues.

On Monday, Ridley is once again eligible to be activated on the Falcons roster but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it looks like things are not changing and Calvin Ridley will not be returning to the Falcons anytime soon.

Calvin Ridley status with the Atlanta Falcons

According to Schefter, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith provided no update on whether the wide receiver will be back with the team as he continues to deal with his mental health issues.

Calvin Ridley stepped away from the NFL in October of 2021 announcing on Twitter he needed to deal with his mental wellbeing. Fans and members of the NFL praised the 26-year-old’s decision to put his health above anything else.