The journey of Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been marked by significant challenges over recent years.
As Ridley gears up for his second season with the Titans, he recently engaged in a conversation with ESPN, reflecting on the various difficulties he has encountered. These challenges notably include the 2022 suspension, which posed a substantial threat to what seemed to be a blossoming superstar career prior to 2022.
The 2020 season (the COVID season) marked a turning point for Ridley in Atlanta, as he successfully caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and scored nine touchdowns, maintaining an average of 15.3 yards per reception.
Despite enduring what would later be identified as a fractured foot, Ridley achieved the most successful season of his career to date, even earning a spot on the second-team All-Pro. Difficulties arose the following year with the foot injury, initially characterized by the Falcons as a “bone bruise,” before the intense pain in Ridley’s foot intensified during the 2021 Organized Team Activities (OTAs).
“My foot was in bad shape,” Ridley acknowledged. “However, I’ve always been the type to say — ‘No, I’m fine, I’m going to participate. I’m going to keep playing despite it.'”
Managing injuries is a common reality for elite athletes; it’s an inherent aspect of the profession. However, Ridley’s foot injury was not the most significant challenge he would confront within the subsequent year. He participated in only five games during the 2021 season. The following offseason brought a major turning point when the NFL suspended Ridley for the entirety of the 2022 season.
“I downloaded the application without realizing that I was violating any regulations,” Ridley stated. “Those were the only two NFL games I placed bets on.”
Betting on just two games resulted in Ridley missing an entire season and losing over $11 million in salary. It’s clear that, at that juncture, Ridley’s psychological well-being was severely affected. Dealing with the foot injury was already difficult, but the suspension compounded the situation. Furthermore, his residence in Atlanta was burglarized amidst all the difficulties.
“If your mental state isn’t strong, your self-assurance diminishes,” Ridley explained.
Ridley understands the significance of maintaining good mental health. Over a couple of years, he persevered through an injury that was more serious than initially diagnosed, faced personal issues at home, experienced a year-long suspension, and was ultimately traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Now, serving as a team captain in Tennessee, Ridley has been presented with a fresh opportunity and a new teammate in rookie quarterback Cam Ward. If everything proceeds as anticipated, they could potentially become the next outstanding QB-WR combination in the league. If that occurs, it would represent one of the most inspiring comeback narratives in NFL history.
