Calvin

Ridley

Ridley finishes the season with a 17 catches for 303 yards and no touchdowns. The Titans have a new general manager, will have a new head coach, and cutting Ridley — who hadn’t delivered in 2024 even when he was healthy — feels like a fait accompli given the $13.7 million in cap savings they can realize by doing so. The soon-to-be 31-year-old will likely be looking for a one-year contract next offseason.

On Tennessee’s first play from scrimmage, Ridley caught the ball and immediately went down in a heap holding his ankle. He was later carted off the field, though he didn’t appear to be in much pain and was conversing with trainers. The Titans provided an update on his status before the drive was over. Ridley’s lone catch went for 13 yards. He was initially questionable before being ruled out at halftime.

Ridley’s hamstring injury kept him down from Weeks 7-9, not including a Week 10 bye. He’ll be on the WR4/WR5 line in a tough matchup against a good Texans pass defense. Jeffery Simmons (hamstring) and Arden Key (quad) are also active. Inactive for the Titans are: S Xavier Woods (hamstring), S Jerrick Reed II, G Drew Moss and T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson.

Ridley hasn’t played since Week 6 because of the hamstring issue. He was listed as questionable for Week 11 after getting in three limited practices. Ridley’s return should provide a small boost to a struggling Tennessee offense, but they weren’t getting much going before he went down with the hamstring injury. Don’t expect a massive turnaround for Cam Ward and company with him back in the lineup. Ridley is nothing more than a WR4 for his first game back.

Ridley remained limited through all three practices. He is seemingly on the wrong side of questionable, and would be very hard to trust in fantasy lineups if he were active. The Titans’ matchup against the Texans’ top-tier pass defense only reinforces concerns. Ridley would only be a boom-bust FLEX if the Titans keep him active on game day.

Ridley looks like he may need another week off before returning, though he still has Friday to upgrade his participation level. If active, Ridley is difficult to trust. He is no longer a difference-making wide receiver at age 30 and the Titans face the Texans’ top-tier pass defense. Consider him a classic boom-bust FLEX if he is cleared to play.

It’s Ridley’s first practice since going down with the hamstring injury in Week 6. He got a Week 10 bye to rest and now has a shot at returning for Sunday’s game against the Texans. Ridley topped 57 yards once in six games to open the year. A date with one of the league’s best defenses will relegate him to the WR4 ranks if he is active on Sunday.

With Ridley a reported trade candidate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, the Titans were never going to risk further injury of his hamstring issue. Whatever team he’s on, Ridley should be considered no better than 50-50 to return for Week 10. Of course, if he remains in Tennessee, that is the team’s bye week.

Ridley has been out since Week 6 with a hamstring injury, making a trade for the age-30 wideout a risky proposition for any team. On the other hand, the Titans are going full youth movement, having already traded cornerback Roger McCreary and released wideout Tyler Lockett. Moving on from Ridley would allow the team to keep evaluating rookie wide receivers Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Ridley still has two years left on his current deal, though he will likely be a cap casualty in the offseason.

Ridley will now miss his third-straight game with the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 6 against the Raiders. The Titans will again hope that Van Jefferson, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike can step in to lead the team’s passing game against a defense that ranks in the top 10 in passing yards allowed and YPA allowed. In addition to Ridley the Titans also ruled out LB Arden Key and S Xavier Woods for Sunday’s game.