HC explains how Jaguars want to ramp up WR Calvin Ridley
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley has played just five games over the last two seasons.
In fact, the last time the 28-year-old played a down, Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence was just a handful of games into his rookie season. Because of that nearly two-year layoff, head coach Doug Pederson said he’s had to hold Ridley back during OTAs as he gets acclimated to a new offense and new personnel.
“He is coming off — he hasn't played in a while, plus the injury,” Pederson told reporters. “We're just trying to be careful with him. He's done an outstanding job for us. He's the type of guy that you have to kind of pump the brakes with. He wants to go so much and so fast and so hard out there at practice that we just kind of have to pump the brakes and just tell him now's not the time.”
Ridley stepped away from the Atlanta Falcons for mental health reasons two seasons ago, missing the final 10 games of Atlanta's 2021 campaign. He then missed the entire 2022 season while serving a suspension for betting on NFL games during the previous season. He also played during the 2020 season with a broken foot.
Now with the Jaguars, Ridley has been held out of some of the team’s OTA practices to prevent any overexertion. The last game he played was on Oct. 24, 2021, when he caught four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown in a 30-28 Falcons win over the Miami Dolphins.
Despite the load management, Ridley has reportedly been a standout during Jacksonville’s OTAs, quickly developing a rapport with Lawrence.
“He's picking up the offense well,” Pederson said. “The times he's working with Trevor, they're on the same page, they're connecting, and those are good things to see right now in the offseason."
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