The Tennessee Titans signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley as one of their key free agents this offseason, giving him a four-year contract worth $92 million.
Ridley, who was a first-round draft pick in 2018 from Alabama, had his toughest game yet with the Titans on Sunday.
Quarterback Will Levis targeted Ridley eight times, more than any other player on the team. However, Ridley finished the game without making a single catch in a 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, which dropped the Titans’ record to 1-4 and left him frustrated.
“I had targets in what part of the game?” Ridley said, expressing his disappointment. “It is what it is, but I sucked today and have to be better.”
He mentioned that he needs the ball thrown to him earlier to get into the game.
Levis attempted to throw to Ridley twice in the second quarter and focused on him again in the fourth quarter with five passes. One of those passes was intercepted by Julian Blackmon with 4:52 remaining, on a play where fans wanted a penalty for defensive interference that was not called.
Ridley said he was trying to beat his defender while watching the ball and didn’t see the safety approaching.
Colts coach Shane Steichen noted that they were aware of Ridley’s talent and that his defenders closely covered him.
“They were playing aggressive with tight man coverage on a lot of those situations and made big-time plays,” Steichen said about his defense against Ridley.
Coach Brian Callahan emphasized that the Titans need Ridley to make catches in order to win. Ridley did have one rush for 9 yards.
“I’m sure he’ll be the first one to tell you that that was disappointing,” Callahan said. “But he’s one of our best players and … we look to him to try to make a play or two and we didn’t get it done at the end of the game. We got to be better all the way around, offensively.”
Ridley, who will turn 30 in December, has been targeted 27 times this season. He has made only nine catches for 141 yards and one touchdown, which was a 40-yard play that initially appeared to be intercepted.
That remains his highlight play this season.
Five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins led the team with four catches for 54 yards and is second to running back Tony Pollard (16) with 14 receptions this season. He also leads the team with 175 receiving yards.
“It’s not just Calvin,” Hopkins said. “It’s everybody. You know Calvin isn’t the only person playing.”
