Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley already fueling the hype at first practice of camp
Lost in the shuffle of the 2022 season was a trade made between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons. WR Calvin Ridley, who was suspended by the league in 2021 for violating the league's policy on gambling, was shipped to Jacksonville Jaguars on November 1, 2022 for a 2023 fifth-round draft pick and a […]
Lost in the shuffle of the 2022 season was a trade made between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons. WR Calvin Ridley, who was suspended by the league in 2021 for violating the league's policy on gambling, was shipped to Jacksonville Jaguars on November 1, 2022 for a 2023 fifth-round draft pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick that could rise to as high as a second. Reinstated in March 2023, Ridley was immediately eligible to resume football activities.
If the start of training camp is any indication, the Jaguars could have pulled a fast one on general managers across the league.
Ridley, who earned second team All-Pro honors in 2022 with the Atlanta Falcons, has been lauded for his route running, quickness, and hands. All were on display in his first practice of the Jaguars' 2023 training camp.
Ridley wowed those in attendance with a leaping catch backwards on a high pass from Trevor Lawrence.
Ridley followed up Zay Jones with an in route during drills, but it looked like Ridley was going at twice the speed as his teammate, and Jones wasn't lagging at all.
Ridley also caught a pass from Lawrence and showed off his cutting ability and agility as he weaved through his teammates.
No, they're not in pads and able to bring him down, but it doesn't take much looking to notice the shimmy and shake that Ridley plays with.
With the soft hands, the crisp route running, and the elusiveness he possesses, it's easy to see how Ridley hauled in 90 of 143 targets for 1374 yards and 9 touchdowns in Atlanta in 2020, earning an 84.7 route running grade from Pro Football Focus.
Now, having owned his prior mistake and with a fresh opportunity with the Jaguars, Ridley is set to show general managers that they were asleep at the wheel when Jacksonville GM Trent Baalke plucked him away from the Falcons.
Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
