Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is expected to have a huge role for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, so everyone held their collective breath when he was pulled to the sidelines on Day 8 of training camp with what seemed to be a foot injury. The good news is that Ridley ultimately experienced soreness because of the cleats he was wearing and was a full-go Thursday.
Ridley met with the local media after practice and gave everyone an update, saying that he felt more comfortable once he changed cleats and it was no big deal.
"I was training this whole offseason in this type of cleats but I like the lows," Ridley said. "so when I came back from training camp, I came here and put on my lows and they just got long spikes. The way I cut and stuff, so it really wasn't my thumb. It was just the bottom of my foot, it was sore because I keep stepping on the side of that shoe. And I was sore, I was getting really sore because I didn't want to take the cleats off."
"I changed cleats and I'm better, I'm good. It was nothing," Ridley concluded.
Earlier this year, there were questions about Ridley's readiness for the regular season and whether the Jaguars would have to bring him along slowly after last playing football in 2021. However, he has had no issues throughout training camp besides experiencing soreness on Day 7. Here's a picture of him wearing his new cleats, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.
New cleats for WR Calvin Ridley. Previous ones contributed to his toe injury, per the team. pic.twitter.com/E9xflsM99Q
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) August 3, 2023
As Ridley himself noted, it was a non-news but because the Jaguars expect big things from him in 2023, everyone stopped what they were doing to make sure he was fine.
WR Calvin Ridley is focused on getting better during Jaguars training camp
Calvin Ridley showed early in his stint with the Atlanta Falcons that he could be a game-changer and after spending the 2022 season away from football, he's ready to prove he's the same player. Even during his suspension for betting on football games last year, he stayed in shape, and ever since he was able to join the Jags, he's done nothing to put in the work to show he can still play at a high level.
One thing that has helped Ridley get better is having to face cornerback Tyson Campbell in practice. Campbell, a second-round pick in the 2021 draft, is an ascending talent, that has gotten league-wide recognition ahead of the 2023 season. Following Day 8 of training camp, the Alabama product said that he doesn't want to go against too many people but Campbell.
"It makes it very hard [having to go against Campbell], come swinging every day," Ridley told the media. "I know he's gonna come swinging, I don't want to go against too many other people to him in practice because I'm trying to get the real work, the grind, the hard reps.
Iron sharpens iron and having to go against Campbell every day will only make Ridley make better. Another thing that stood out in Ridley's exchange with the media is that he doesn't dwell on mistakes. He dropped three passes Wednesday but didn't make a big deal out of it. Instead, he's focused on building on the positives from yesterday's practice.
"If I drop a pass, that doesn't mean I'm rusty," Ridley said. " I just dropped it, was so wet yesterday, and couldn't keep them on my body. And a player like me, I'm never gonna think it's rust, no. I'm sorry. I'm not gonna say that. This training camp — what day is it, eight? — Pretty sore today, so no, I'm not rusty. I did so much good yesterday. I did so much good. And there was some bad, there's gonna be some good and bad and I look at it as a win. I'm out here and it's training camp."
"Like I said, I gotta get through this. That's what I'm doing. I know how hard training camp is. And this is probably one of the hardest training camps I've ever been in. So I know that I gotta continue to work to get better to be dominant come Day 1," Ridley said.
Ridley is right. He doesn't gain much by getting fixated on his mistakes, and not because he doesn't care but rather because he's looking for ways to fix them.
Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley is letting everyone know how great of a player he is
A locker room is full of all kinds of personalities, none inherently better or worse than others. Some players keep to themselves while others are a bit more outspoken. There are those who are boastful, which could rub people the wrong way. But if they can back it up, why shouldn't they? The NFL is better when they let their players be themselves.
In Calvin Ridley's case, he isn't necessarily bragging when he says he's a great player. He's worked to get to where he is and he's self-aware to know that everyone listens when he speaks. During his exchange with the media Thursday, he gave a reason why he's been so vocal.
"I'm a good receiver, one of the better receivers in the league. That's what I've been saying since I was a rookie," Ridley said. "I noticed that right away when I got into the league. I'm trying to be humble but everyone has doubted me. I'm trying to fight back, respectfully at the same time."
"Because I'm not into the media, I'm just trying to show I got respect for myself and I'm gonna work hard. I'm not gonna say I'm gonna come back rusty or anything. I'm just trying to play good for the Jacksonville Jaguars," Ridley said.
Ridley kept a low profile after retiring and his subsequent suspension. During his absence, a narrative arose that he was soft for stepping away or not playing through injuries when in reality he had to take painkiller to be able to suit up during the 2021 season.
When he hung up the cleats, he said that he wanted to focus on his mental health, and some fans took it as a sign of weakness, even though taking care of oneself should be everyone's top priority.
Now back on the football field, Ridley can return to dominance and pick up where he left off back in Atlanta.