The NFL is no longer rid of one of its best wide receivers.
As of March 6, Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley has been reinstated by the league, this coming almost year to the day after he was handed a one-year ban for betting on NFL games in 2021.
Ridley released a statement on the reinstatement on Monday:
Statement from #jaguars WR Calvin Ridley: pic.twitter.com/EJnhha3Zj4
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 6, 2023
Ridley's statement:
Today's reinstatement by the NFL brings an end to a challenging chapter of my professional career, one that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated lapse in judgement. I have always owned my mistakes and this is no different. I have a great respect for the game and am excited for the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville. I look forward to showing my new coaches, teammates and the entire Jaguars organization who I am and what I represent as a player and person.
MORE: List of NFL players suspended for betting — Ridley leads list
Now, for the first time in a year and a half, Ridley will suit up in an NFL game. He last played in 2021 for the Falcons, taking the remainder of the season off after revealing he was dealing with mental health issues.
Here's what to know about Ridley's suspension, reinstatement, contract and more:
Why did the NFL suspend Calvin Ridley?
On March 7, 2022, the NFL suspended Ridley after discovering that the then-Falcons wide receiver placed bets on games during the 2021 season.
The NFL said that Ridley bet on games "during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team." NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that Ridley placed parlay bets on NFL games using his cell phone.
Ridley was on the Non-Football Illness list at that time he placed the bets, so he didn't place bets on games in which he played. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell condemned Ridley's actions, saying that he "put the integrity of the game at risk."
There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL's success — and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league — than upholding the integrity of the game. This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.
The NFL, which has worked closely with sports books and other betting partners, likely wanted to curtail any doubts about the integrity of the game.
Ridley would later defend himself in a series of tweets, but it was all for naught, as he served the yearlong ban.
Calvin Ridley contract
Entering the 2023 season, Ridley is playing on the final year of his original rookie contract (Jacksonville picked up his fifth-year option). That means Ridley will have a one-year trial run to put himself in position for a long-term extension, unless the Jaguars make that commitment to him at some point this offseason.
Because of Ridley's yearlong suspension in 2022, the totality of his contract was deferred to the 2023 season, and he will account for a cap hit of just over $11 million, certainly a light number for a No. 1 receiver.
Here's how his contract broke down through his reinstatement:
| Year | Base salary | Signing bonus | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $480,000 | $1,501,947 | $1,981,947 |
| 2019 | $975,487 | $1,501,947 | $2,477,434 |
| 2020 | $1,470,974 | $1,501,947 | $2,972,921 |
| 2021 | $1,966,461 | $1,501,949 | $3,468,410 |
| 2022* | — | — | — |
| 2023 | $11,116,000 | $0 | $11,116,000 |
MORE: NFL free agency — The best available players this offseason
Calvin Ridley trade
On Nov. 1, 2022, despite the suspension, the Falcons sent Ridley to the Jaguars for a pair of picks, giving Trevor Lawrence a future No. 1 target. The deal in total:
- Jaguars receive: WR Calvin Ridley
- Falcons receive: 2023 conditional fifth-round pick, conditional 2024 fourth-round pick
The 2023 pick was originally a sixth-round pick that is now a fifth-rounder with Ridley's reinstatement. The 2024 pick can become a third-rounder based on playing time, and can become a second-rounder should Ridley sign a long-term extension with the Jaguars.
MORE: Calvin Ridley trade grades — Jags fleece Falcons
Calvin Ridley stats
In all, Ridley has a single 1,000-yard season over four years with the Falcons, and has a single double-digit TD season, which came in his rookie year.
Here's how Ridley's key stats weighed up entering his next year in the league:
| Year | Games (Starts) | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | Y/C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 16 (5) | 64 | 821 | 10 | 12.8 |
| 2019 | 13 (10) | 63 | 866 | 7 | 13.7 |
| 2020 | 15 (15) | 90 | 1,374 | 9 | 15.3 |
| 2021 | 5 (5) | 31 | 281 | 2 | 9.1 |
Jaguars WR depth chart
With Ridley lacing up the cleats for the 2023 season, the Jaguars wide receiver room gets a much-needed boost. While Christian Kirk had a very productive year in 2022, Jacksonville was in need of a true No. 1 threat, which Ridley now gives the offense.
Here's how the room ranks out heading into free agency:
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Calvin Ridley |
| 2 | Christian Kirk |
| 3 | Zay Jones |
| 4 | Jamal Agnew |
| 5 | Kendric Pryor |
