Jaguars' Calvin Ridley: Making strong early impression
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Ridley impressed new coach Doug Pederson during the first day of OTAs on Monday, Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union reports. "He's been here, he's been focused, engaged, doing the things we've asked him to do," Pederson said.
The 28-year-old was suspended for the entire 2022 campaign for violating the league's gambling policy and played in only five games during 2021 in order to focus on his mental health, but he now appears to be in top shape after being acquired by Jacksonville in November. Pederson also indicated Ridley has been active in the offseason program, which should put him in a strong position to establish an on-field rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence ahead of training camp.
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Jaguars' Calvin Ridley: Reinstated Monday
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The NFL announced Monday that Ridley has been fully reinstated from his indefinite suspension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Ridley was suspended indefinitely for gambling on the NFL while away from the Falcons during the 2021 season. He was acquired by the Jaguars last season at the trade deadline and gets a fresh start in Jacksonville, where he'll likely fill the role vacated by Marvin Jones, who is a free agent this month. Ridley will slide in opposite Zay Jones on the outside, leaving Christian Kirk in the slot. Ridley is now 28 years old and hasn't played in a game since October 2021, so initial expectations should be held in check as the 2018 first-rounder is introduced to his new team's offense, helmed by QB Trevor Lawrence.
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Jaguars' Calvin Ridley: Applies for reinstatement
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Ridley (suspension) will apply for reinstatement Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
As expected, Ridley is applying to return to the NFL at his earliest eligibility date. The wideout missed the entire 2022 season due to an indefinite suspension for betting on NFL games back in 2021. The 28-year-old was traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville on Nov. 1, and he's wasting no time in petitioning the league to allow him to begin participating in team activities with his new club. Assuming Ridley is reinstated without issue, he will have a clear path to join Christian Kirk (knee) and Zay Jones as quarterback Trevor Lawrence's top receivers during the upcoming campaign.
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Jaguars' Calvin Ridley: Reinstatement anticipated on track
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Coach Doug Pederson said Monday "we feel strongly" that Ridley (suspension) will be reinstated this offseason, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.
Pederson's comments confirm that Ridley's progress toward a return to football activities is proceeding as expected. The wideout is eligible to apply for reinstatement beginning Feb. 15, and provided that the NFL approves him for a return to league activities, the 28-year-old's first tangible contact with the Jaguars could come this offseason, as early as April 17. Ridley was suspended at least the entire 2022 season as the result of him betting on NFL games during a five-day stretch in November 2021, and he hasn't seen the field since. Jacksonville traded the Falcons conditional 2023 and 2024 draft picks to acquire Ridley in November.
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Jaguars' Calvin Ridley: Shipped to Jacksonville
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The Jaguars acquired Ridley (suspension) from the Falcons on Tuesday in exchange for conditional 2023 and 2024 draft picks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Jacksonville's decision to trade for Ridley is more of a long-term play, as the 27-year-old receiver is suspended through at least the 2022 season. Provided he's met the conditions of his suspension that stemmed from betting on NFL games during a five-day stretch in November 2021, Ridley will be eligible to apply for reinstatement Feb. 15. Ridley has already flashed the upside of being a No. 1 receiver -- he notably turned in a 90-1,374-9 line over 15 games in 2020 -- so he should help upgrade the Jacksonville passing game in 2023 if he's able to make a smooth transition back to the field following his lengthy layoff. According to Rapoport, the 2023 pick will be a maximum of a fifth-round selection if Ridley is reinstated by a certain date, while the 2024 pick will be as high as a second-rounder if Jacksonville ends up working out a contract extension with the wideout, whose deals expires after the 2023 season.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Suspended for 2022 season
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The league announced Monday that Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The NFL's statement indicates that the wideout bet on games last season during a five-day stretch in late November while he was away from the Falcons on the reserve/non-football illness list. Per Ben Baby of ESPN.com, Ridley -- who last played on Oct. 24 -- is eligible for reinstatement Feb. 15, 2023. Ridley has three days to appeal the suspension.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Not in contact with team yet
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Ridley, who did not play after Week 7 to focus on his mental health, has not contacted members of the Falcons' front office regarding plans for next season, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
There's still very little information regarding Ridley's abrupt leave of absence from the Falcons and it doesn't seem as if the franchise or player has any intentions of accelerating the issue anytime soon. Garafolo even went on to say it's possible both sides could mutually seek a trade this offseason, though that's by no means something that has been confirmed by either party. The 2018 first-round pick had his $11.12 million fifth-year option exercised this past offseason, though it remains to be seen if that compensation would be fully guaranteed given that distinction is normally reserved for injury only. The 27-year-old finished the 2021 season with 31 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns across five games.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: No update on possible return
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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that he doesn't have an update on Ridley, who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list due to a personal matter, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Ridley has been out since Week 7 to focus on his mental well-being. At this point, he'll likely sit out the rest of the season, though nothing has been confirmed one way or the other.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Still no update
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Coach Arthur Smith said Monday that he still doesn't have an update on Ridley's (personal) status, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Ridley was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in early November after he stepped away from football to focus on his mental well-being. While the 26-year-old is eligible to return as early as Sunday against the Jaguars, he doesn't yet have a timetable to rejoin the team. Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe and Olamide Zaccheaus will continue to serve as Atlanta's top receivers while Ridley is sidelined.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Goes on NFI list, out three weeks
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Atlanta placed Ridley (personal) on the reserve/non-football injury list Friday.
The transaction means that Ridley won't be eligible to play for the next three weeks, making the Falcons' Nov. 28 game against the Jaguars the earliest possible return date for the wideout. Whether Ridley returns to action when first eligible Week 12 is uncertain, as the Falcons intend to give him as much time off as he needs after he acknowledged in a post on his personal Twitter account Oct. 31 that he's taking a break from football to focus on his mental well-being.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Surprise inactive Sunday
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Ridley won't play Sunday against the Panthers while he attends to a personal matter.
Ridley wasn't listed on the injury report all week, but the personal issue will prevent him from suiting up for Sunday's divisional contest. Tajae Sharpe will start in his place, while Russell Gage and tight end Kyle Pitts should see increased target shares in his absence.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Scores TD in return
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Ridley secured four of 10 targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' 30-28 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
Ridley and Matt Ryan couldn't link up consistently, but the veteran wideout, coming off a one-game absence for personal reasons, was able to salvage his fantasy day to an extent with a five-yard scoring grab in the second quarter. Ridley's target total was his fourth straight of the double-digit variety, further cementing him as a rock-solid fantasy option, particularly in PPR formats, on a week-to-week basis. Ridley will look to raise his efficiency in a Week 8 divisional home matchup against the reeling Panthers.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Returning to practice
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Ridley (personal) will return to practice this week, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.
Ridley sat out a Week 5 contest in London for personal reasons, and the Falcons were on bye Week 6, but it looks like the star wideout now is on track to be available for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. In four appearances this season, Ridley has earned double-digit targets on three occasions and never failed to achieve at least 50 receiving yards.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: To sit out Week 5
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Ridley won't travel with the Falcons to London for Sunday's game against the Jets due to a personal matter, Scott Bair of the team's official site reports.
Along with Ridley, the Falcons will be without Russell Gage, who also won't make the trip due to an ankle injury. With his top two wide receivers out, Matt Ryan may just use his tight ends and running backs more than usual, but Atlanta's available wide receivers will be Olamide Zaccheaus, Tajae Sharpe, Christian Blake and Frank Darby.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Not seen at practice
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Ridley wasn't in attendance during the open portion of Thursday's practice for an unspecified reason, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Ridley didn't appear on the Falcons' initial Week 5 injury report released Wednesday, so the nature of his absence likely won't be known until the team reveals its second report later Thursday. Given that Thursdays tend to be the most rigorous session of the week for teams that play Sunday games, Ridley's absence wouldn't seem to be the result of a pre-planned maintenance day. The Falcons are scheduled to fly to London following Thursday's session and will hold their final practice of the week overseas Friday before playing the Jets on Sunday.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Big volume again in loss
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Ridley caught seven of 13 targets for 80 yards in Sunday's 34-30 loss to Washington.
The fourth-year receiver once again led the Falcons in targets and catches, but it was Cordarrelle Patterson who led the club in receiving yards. Ridley has seen double-digit targets in three straight games but his actual production has been a little disappointing, as Sunday's yardage was a season high and he has only one TD. Ridley will get a golden opportunity for a breakout in a Week 5 matchup against the Jets in London.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Team high in receptions
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Ridley caught eight of 11 targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 17-14 win over the Giants.
Ridley led the Falcons in receptions and targets, but besides a long gain of 20 yards, he mostly was a factor on underneath routes. Through three games, Atlanta's top wideout is yet to surpass 65 yards, but he's hauled in at least five passes each contest. After tying for fifth league-wide with 1,374 receiving yards last season, Ridley still hasn't enjoyed his breakout performance under new coach Arthur Smith, yet he remains a reliable option ahead of Week 4's matchup against Washington.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Five grabs in Week 1 loss
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Ridley brought in five of eight targets for 51 yards in the Falcons' 32-6 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
Ridley did pace the Falcons in receptions and receiving yards on the afternoon while also tying Kyle Pitts for the team lead in targets. Nevertheless, Ridley's final line has to be considered a fantasy disappointment in what was the Falcons' first game of the post-Julio Jones era. Time will tell whether Ridley is miscast as a No. 1 receiver, as it's difficult to draw any definitive conclusions from a game that got as out of hand in the second half as Sunday's did. The problem for Ridley and his offensive teammates is that matters could be even thornier Week 2, considering a road matchup against the Buccaneers awaits.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Chance to play Sunday
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Ridley is in uniform ahead of Sunday's preseason contest against the Browns, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
It's unclear if Ridley will make his exhibition debut, but Matt Ryan and Mike Davis also are dressed, meaning the Falcons may be trotting out their first-team offense for spell in the first half. If so, we may get a peek at rookie tight end Kyle Pitts working in concert with Ridley.
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Falcons' Calvin Ridley: Sitting out preseason game
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Ridley will not play in Saturday's preseason game against Miami, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
The Falcons are resting many of their starters, and Ridley is as important as any. With Ridley inactive, the Falcons likely will take a longer look at backup receivers such as Olamide Zaccheaus, Christian Blake, Tajae Sharpe and Frank Darby.
