As the Falcons prepare for their trip across the pond to square off with the Jaguars in London, one of the main storylines for the Week 4 contest is Calvin Ridley facing his former team.
The Falcons former first-round pick ironically didn’t travel with the team the last time they traveled to London to play, which was in October of 2021. After serving a suspension for the entire 2022 campaign for gambling on NFL games, he returned to the field following a near two-year absence.
His Jaguars debut couldn’t have gone better. Ridley logged eight catches for 101 yards and a score, 92 of which came in the first half. However, over the next two weeks, he’s only put up 72 yards on five receptions, despite being targeted 15 times.
Ridley will surely be focused ahead of facing his former team, but there’s no bad blood between the two sides. After all, the Falcons gave Calvin Ridley the opportunity to seek a trade destination that he preferred. And from Atlanta’s perspective, it’s nothing but love.
“I appreciate the time I got to spend with Calvin (Ridley) … It makes you feel good to see guys back out there doing what they love.” Arthur Smith told members of the media, while reiterating multiple times that he’s happy Calvin Ridley is playing and playing well for Jacksonville.
I think I speak for all Falcons fans, or at least the decent humans among the fan base when I say that we wish nothing but the best for Calvin Ridley. He struggled for nearly two years and is finally back to doing what he does best — play football.
Obviously, I want the Falcons to win this game, but two things can be true at once. I want Atlanta and Ridley to succeed.
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Photographer: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire
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