NFL Network host tabs Jaguars player he's rooting for in 2023
The history of the NFL is replete with great storylines and comebacks, both with teams and players. Turnarounds happen often, and the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars were no stranger to that. After falling to 3-7 after a 27-17 loss in Kansas City, the team went on a 6-1 run to finish the regular season and secure […]
The history of the NFL is replete with great storylines and comebacks, both with teams and players. Turnarounds happen often, and the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars were no stranger to that. After falling to 3-7 after a 27-17 loss in Kansas City, the team went on a 6-1 run to finish the regular season and secure the AFC South title.
Then, falling behind 27-0 to the LA Chargers in the Wild Card round, it was Trevor Lawrence, who threw four first-half interceptions, who rallied the team to an improbable 31-30 win. The turnaround was a microcosm of his own recovery from a rough 2021 rookie campaign in which he threw 12 touchdowns to 17 interceptions.
However, there's another player looking for redemption in Jacksonville that Good Morning Football co-host Jason McCourty has identified as the player he is rooting for the most in 2023: Calvin Ridley. McCourty noted the following about Ridley:
Recently reinstated after a yearlong suspension for violating the league's gambling policy, Ridley owned his misstep with a candid letter. We all make mistakes and it's tough to own them — especially in the public eye — but what matters is how you respond. Ridley appears to be locked in and determined to get back to form on the field, as he's already put in work with Trevor Lawrence. Ridley can elevate Lawrence's game to new heights and help get the Jags back to the playoffs.
It's hard not to root for a player like Ridley, who's looking to make both a personal and professional comeback. Ridley took time away from the Falcons during the 2021 season to focus on his mental well-being. He was suspended indefinitely by the league in March 2022 for gambling in November 2021.
The Jaguars acquired Ridley from Atlanta in November 2022, with Jacksonville sending a 2023 fifth-round pick and a conditional 2024 pick in exchange for the talented wideout. The 2024 pick can rise to as high as a second-round selection based on playing time factors and if the team signs him to a long-term deal. The team managed to recoup a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft by trading down and drafting tackle Anton Harrison, so the conditional 2024 pick is what the Jaguars are effectively out for Ridley.
In his first three years in the league, Ridley averaged 72.3 receptions, 1,020.3 yards, and 8.7 touchdowns per season. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, catching 90 passes for 1374 yards and 9 touchdowns.
If Ridley can repeat the success in Jacksonville that he had in Atlanta, then the Jaguars will have gotten themselves a steal of a deal. And given the situation he's walking into, there's no reason to think Ridley can't reestablish himself among the league's best receivers.
Ridley won't be tasked with doing it all himself this fall. Far from it, actually, as Christian Kirk put together an excellent first year in Jacksonville and Zay Jones set career highs in catches (82), targets (121), and receiving yards (823). As such, teams won't be able to simply shift coverage towards Ridley without paying the price elsewhere on the field.
Ridley's attempt to climb back to his old form will indeed be one of the biggest storylines to watch in Jacksonville this fall. If he can do it, the Jaguars' potential ascension from division winner to a true AFC contender could be closer to reality than some might think.
