NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The foot injury that kept Calvin Ridley from practicing with the Tennessee Titans two straight sessions didn't stop the wide receiver from working. Far from it.
First-year coach Brian Callahan heard a JUGS machine working at 7 a.m. Tuesday, looked out the window and saw the Titans' big free agent signee working with a helmet on and an equipment man shooting balls at Ridley.
He also worked with Tennessee's newest toy, catching tennis balls before and after practice and during walk-throughs. Callahan had a quick chat with the veteran receiver as well with the Titans trading away three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins. and Ridley said the coach's message was simple.
“Play better,” Ridley said Wednesday. The six-year veteran turned in his best game in a Titans' uniform catching all six passes for 118 yards in the first quarter. Ridley finished with 10 receptions on 15 targets for 143 yards, including 47-yarder, in an effort overshadowed by a 52-14 loss in Detroit.
“Coach got on me a little bit," Ridley said. "But not only that, man, I just reverted back to my work. Went to working a little, just worked a little harder that week and just was little .
.. more focused.
Just like I got to play better, and that was it.” Callahan caught some of Ridley's early work on video and shared it with the rest of the Titans as an example of someone working to improve. Callahan estimated Ridley may have caught at least 200 balls before practicing fully last Friday.
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