The foot injury that kept Calvin Ridley from practicing with the Tennessee Titans for two straight sessions didn’t stop him from putting in the work. In fact, it was the opposite.
First-year coach Brian Callahan heard a JUGS machine running at 7 a.m. Tuesday. When he looked out the window, he saw the Titans’ big free agent signing working with a helmet on while an equipment manager threw balls to him.
Ridley also practiced with tennis balls before and after practice and during walk-throughs.
Callahan had a quick chat with Ridley, especially after the Titans traded away three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins. Ridley said the coach’s message was clear. “Play better,” Ridley said Wednesday.
The six-year veteran had his best game with the Titans, catching all six passes for 118 yards in the first quarter. Ridley finished with 10 receptions on 15 targets for 143 yards, including a 47-yarder, even though the team lost 52-14 to Detroit.
“Coach got on me a little bit,” Ridley said. “But not only that, man, I just reverted back to my work. Went to working a little, just worked a little harder that week and just was a little… more focused. Just like I got to play better, and that was it.”
Callahan recorded some of Ridley’s early work on video and shared it with the rest of the Titans as an example of someone trying to improve. Callahan estimated that Ridley caught at least 200 balls before fully practicing last Friday.
“I commend him for trying to find a way to get better, and that was really good to see,” Callahan said. “But he’s done a lot of things to refocus himself and get back to it, and I thought it paid off on Sunday.”
Ridley’s hard work helped the Titans (1-6) achieve their best passing total this season. Mason Rudolph threw for 258 yards, even though the team is ranked 31st in the NFL with an average of 161.9 yards per game. Rudolph’s first pass went to Ridley for 13 yards.
His one mistake? He thought a defender was closer and tried to make a cut when Ridley might have been able to just outrun everyone to the end zone. “I’ll be better,” Ridley said about such chances.
The Titans need Ridley now more than ever to lead a receiving group that is missing Treylon Burks, the 18th pick in the 2022 draft, who is on injured reserve. Ridley leads the team with 22 catches for 326 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per reception.
They will host the New England Patriots (2-6) on Sunday, still looking for their first home win this season.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has talked with Ridley about the criticism he has faced due to his slow start after signing a four-year deal worth up to $92 million in March. Simmons mentioned that Ridley didn’t expect the coach to record him and share that with the team.
Simmons has often seen Ridley working hard when no one is watching.
“What are you doing to keep elevating your game, especially in this league?” Simmons said. “Because, I mean, every day someone is trying to take those spots.”
