The Steelers’ search for a receiver before the 2026 NFL trade deadline has already been crowded, and Calvin Ridley’s name has been in the mix. But the Tennessee Titans wideout may have just become a much tougher fit for Pittsburgh to pursue.
Ridley was involved in an undisclosed incident at Nashville International Airport during his bye week, according to a report from WKRN. The Titans confirmed his involvement but offered no details.
"We are aware of the incident and are in communication with Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority,” the team said. “We will not be able to comment any further at this time."
For a Steelers team with a clear need at wide receiver, Ridley had been one of several possible targets on the board. Pittsburgh has been linked to nearly every receiver available, including Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs, and Ridley had emerged as a name worth watching in the final hours before the deadline.
But the latest development only adds another layer of uncertainty to a player who was already a shaky option. Ridley is in his third season with Tennessee, and the production has trended the wrong way.
His first year with the Titans was his best, when he finished with 1,017 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Injuries cut into last season, limiting him to seven games and 303 yards.
This year has been quieter still. Ridley has appeared in seven games in 2026, but he has been targeted only 13 times. That has produced six catches for 91 yards and no touchdowns.
Over his last 14 games played, Ridley has totaled 49 receptions and 394 yards. The yards per catch number still jumps off the page, but it doesn’t change the bigger picture: he hasn’t looked like the same receiver who once operated as a multiple-time 1,000-yard threat.
With the airport incident now in the picture, the Steelers have even more reason to move on. Ridley was already a questionable trade fit. This latest news makes the case to stay away even stronger.
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