First look at new Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley in action at OTAs
With the Jacksonville Jaguars kicking off OTAs on Monday, receiver Calvin Ridley was back in action after a nearly two-year hiatus. Wearing his newly approved No. 0 jersey, Ridley participated in drills with his new teammates, showing off the skill he displayed in his first three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Jaguars posted video on Twitter of Ridley on the field working on his footwork and catching passes. Although it was a brief glimpse into his day, Ridley looked impressive in the clip, which you can view below.
Ridley was traded to Jacksonville from the Atlanta Falcons in November. He has not played in an NFL game since October of 2021 after announcing he was stepping away from football due to mental health reasons. He then served a suspension for the entirety of the 2022 season after it was revealed he placed bets on games, including some involving the Falcons.
The NFL announced in March that Ridley had been reinstated and will be eligible to play in 2023.
That opens the door for him to make an impact on a Jaguars team coming off of its first playoff appearance since 2017. In his last full season in 2020, Ridley had his best year yet to record 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ridley joins a Jacksonville receiving corps that also features Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. As he hopes for a fresh start on a new team, he is already garnering praise from his coaches and has a chance to be the No. 1 option for Trevor Lawrence next season.
Jaguars OC Press Taylor ‘really impressed’ with Calvin Ridley
Following Day 1 of OTAs, Jacksonville offensive coordinator Press Taylor is confident Ridley will have no trouble picking up where he left off.
“I’ve been really impressed with Calvin,” Taylor told reporters Monday. “I’ve watched every snap Calvin’s played in the NFL, just like a lot of our guys have. So we’re very confident in the player we’re getting.”
Along with the past success, Taylor also has belief in Ridley based on what he’s seen since arriving in Jacksonville. The receiver has put in the work to learn the playbook, going above and beyond to prepare himself for success as he makes his return to the field.
“To be able to meet him in person, we’ve had a lot of people that vouched for him, obviously going back to when we acquired him, but the work he’s put in this offseason has been impressive just in terms of meaning the extra work he does,” Taylor said. “And you can tell he is doing it because he comes in the next day, he’s got his list of questions, and they’re very thought out. You can tell he’s peeked ahead of the install or just looking a couple of days ahead as we go on. So he’s done a great job, just intermixing with the group and making his own role.”