Calvin Ridley isn’t backing down from the idea that he can still be a difference-maker for the Titans.
Ridley took a pay cut to stay in Tennessee this offseason, but he made it clear that move had nothing to do with doubts about his speed or his ability to win downfield. After a season that was cut short by a fractured fibula, he said the injury and the modest production that came before it haven’t shaken his confidence.
Ridley played seven games last season and finished with 17 catches, putting him on pace for what would have been his least productive full season since entering the NFL. Even so, he said over the weekend that he still believes the burst that made him such a dangerous weapon is very much intact.
“Hell yeah,” Ridley said, via the team’s website. "[I] can still beat all of them, still as fast as all of them. . . .
If I stay healthy, I am going to be a good player on this team. I am going to contribute on this team.”
At 30, Ridley is the most experienced receiver in Tennessee’s group, and he said that background has made it easier for him to serve as a guide for younger teammates such as Carnell Tate, Chimere Dike, and Elic Ayomanor.
“That’s because I used to kick ass,” Ridley said. “And I still can.”
The Titans are hoping that confidence turns into production as they look to climb the standings in Cam Ward’s second season at quarterback.
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Kanak has also been productive enough to force a longer look, with five receptions over two practices as he battles for a roster spot. Even with his role projecting more toward special teams than offense as a rookie, he is giving Tennessee a reason to keep him in the conversation as camp starts to sort out the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Intensity Is Rising As Young Standouts Force Attention
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The heat showed up in the trenches as well, where a brief altercation between Jeffery Simmons and JC Latham added to the days tension before it was quickly settled. It was the sort of camp moment that rarely means much on its own, but it did underline how competitive this group already feels, especially with younger names pushing to make themselves impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Elic Ayomanor Is Pushing For A Titans Role That Matters
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The bigger question now is whether Ayomanor can turn those moments into the kind of steadiness that earns real trust in the offense. Saleh made clear that consistency is the standard here, and if Ayomanor keeps building on what he showed, he has a chance to move from promising young target to a role that actually matters for the Titans. [Read more 🡒]