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Calvin Ridley got up.
After months on the shelf recovering from a lower leg injury, the veteran receiver took his first live reps with the Tennessee Titans this offseason during practice on June 11. Through the first three weeks of practices, Ridley stretched and participated in individual drills but when it came time for team or 7-on-7 drills, Ridley went off to a side field and continued rehabbing.
So on this graduation day of sorts, Ridley trotted onto the field for the third rep of the first team period. He moved swiftly and broke open over the middle of the field on an in-breaking route. QB Cam Ward found him and Ridley extended for a nice catch... until safety Kevin Winston Jr., collided with him. Winston stripped the ball out, recovered the fumble and changed direction downfield on the turnover while Ridley laid flat on the ground for a second.
One play back, and Ridley was already taking hits. In a practice where no one's wearing pads and where no one's supposed to be tackling at full speed.
Nevertheless, Ridley got back up, dusted himself off and kept practicing. Ward targeted him again later on in a 7-on-7 period, and fellow quarterback Mitchell Trubisky connected with Ridley on a crossing route where Ridley stutter-stepped his way open for a big gain.
Ridley's day ended after the 7-on-7 period, but that's progress.
"He’s coming off of an injury and we’re just trying to make sure we progress him in the way that we need to," Titans coach Robert Saleh said before practice. "It’s just part of trying to get him to where he’s comfortable with his body."
Ridley missed 11 games in 2025 with various injuries, including the season-ending leg injury sustained against Houston. He only caught 17 passes and didn't score a touchdown, dealing with drop issues and never developing a strong chemistry with Ward.
Now he's back for 2026 on a restructured contract. Ridley's part of a reloaded receiver room that returns second-year options Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor but also introduces first-round pick Carnell Tate and big-money free agent add Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson was the NFL's seventh-most targeted wide receiver in 2025 with 140 passes thrown his way playing under Titans OC Brian Daboll when he was New York's coach, and Tate comes to the Titans as the No. 4 pick in the draft and has immediately been a standout performer in practice.
Ridley, of course, has his benefits too. He's also got history with Daboll, having played under his tutelage as a college athlete at Alabama. And he's looked precise and explosive in practice; his footwork has been sharp in individual drills since the start of practices even before he started participating in team activities.
Getting Ridley healthy and back to full speed gives the 2026 Titans three wide receivers who all would've been the 2025 Titans' number one option. If anything points toward Ward's chances of making a significant leap in Year 2, it's that.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Calvin Ridley takes major step forward from injury in Titans OTAs
Continue reading...
After months on the shelf recovering from a lower leg injury, the veteran receiver took his first live reps with the Tennessee Titans this offseason during practice on June 11. Through the first three weeks of practices, Ridley stretched and participated in individual drills but when it came time for team or 7-on-7 drills, Ridley went off to a side field and continued rehabbing.
So on this graduation day of sorts, Ridley trotted onto the field for the third rep of the first team period. He moved swiftly and broke open over the middle of the field on an in-breaking route. QB Cam Ward found him and Ridley extended for a nice catch... until safety Kevin Winston Jr., collided with him. Winston stripped the ball out, recovered the fumble and changed direction downfield on the turnover while Ridley laid flat on the ground for a second.
One play back, and Ridley was already taking hits. In a practice where no one's wearing pads and where no one's supposed to be tackling at full speed.
Nevertheless, Ridley got back up, dusted himself off and kept practicing. Ward targeted him again later on in a 7-on-7 period, and fellow quarterback Mitchell Trubisky connected with Ridley on a crossing route where Ridley stutter-stepped his way open for a big gain.
Ridley's day ended after the 7-on-7 period, but that's progress.
"He’s coming off of an injury and we’re just trying to make sure we progress him in the way that we need to," Titans coach Robert Saleh said before practice. "It’s just part of trying to get him to where he’s comfortable with his body."
Ridley missed 11 games in 2025 with various injuries, including the season-ending leg injury sustained against Houston. He only caught 17 passes and didn't score a touchdown, dealing with drop issues and never developing a strong chemistry with Ward.
Now he's back for 2026 on a restructured contract. Ridley's part of a reloaded receiver room that returns second-year options Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor but also introduces first-round pick Carnell Tate and big-money free agent add Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson was the NFL's seventh-most targeted wide receiver in 2025 with 140 passes thrown his way playing under Titans OC Brian Daboll when he was New York's coach, and Tate comes to the Titans as the No. 4 pick in the draft and has immediately been a standout performer in practice.
Ridley, of course, has his benefits too. He's also got history with Daboll, having played under his tutelage as a college athlete at Alabama. And he's looked precise and explosive in practice; his footwork has been sharp in individual drills since the start of practices even before he started participating in team activities.
Getting Ridley healthy and back to full speed gives the 2026 Titans three wide receivers who all would've been the 2025 Titans' number one option. If anything points toward Ward's chances of making a significant leap in Year 2, it's that.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Calvin Ridley takes major step forward from injury in Titans OTAs
Continue reading...
