Calvin Ridley remains calm, ready for debut with Jaguars as team gets set to take on Colts

On Sunday, it will have been 686 days, nearly two years since receiver Calvin Ridley last stepped onto the gridiron in the regular season.

In that time, Ridley had taken a personal leave of absence for mental health purposes before later being suspended for the entire 2022 season due to violating the league's gambling policy. He then was traded during his suspension after a four-year stay with the Atlanta Falcons to the Jacksonville Jaguars where he will reignite his career.

Now, Ridley will get his opportunity to show that he hasn't lost a step, certainly isn't rusty and perhaps will be even better than ever before when the Jaguars face off against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 10 in Week 1 of NFL action. The Jaguars are 4.5-point favorites.

Game info: Battle between first-round QBs with Trevor Lawrence vs. Anthony Richardson

Through all of the turbulence, the fifth-year veteran was eerily calm when speaking with the media in the locker room Thursday. He's wiser and more relaxed than he's ever been, he said.

"I'm gonna be ready. I'm ready now, but I'm gonna be calm. I got all that [nerves] out already," Ridley said in the locker room Thursday.

The Jaguars receiver played in two preseason games, catching all five of his targets for 71 yards, including a sensational 28-yard snag against the Dolphins in Week 3. It's simply scratching the surface of what he can bring to the table.

"The speed is real, the explosion is real, the ability to catch footballs is real, those are all things that pop out in person. Of course, what he’s put on tape in his career, that’s what gets you excited about the opportunity here," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Friday.

"At the same time too, he understands that you just got to be patient. You got guys like Christian [WR Christian Kirk] and Evan [TE Evan Engram] and Zay [WR Zay Jones] and TJ [RB Travis Etienne Jr.], and Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] does a nice job of getting everyone involved.”

There isn't a lot of prep a day before the game for Ridley, he simply will make sure to get a lot of rest the night before, going to sleep early, he said. He's past the point of disbelief that he is here, ready to play football again.

He's ready to go.

"I'm at the point where I believe I'm here. I got past the worst part, getting reinstated, camp. [Now], just being around my teammates, being in the locker room, everything is back to normal for me."

Don't get it twisted, though, Ridley is ready to go and is excited. The calmness and comfortability come from within, he doesn't want to make his return bigger than what it really is.

It's time to win.

"I'm comfortable. I'm also excited, I am, but I've done it so many times," Ridley said when asked about his calm demeanor.

"I don't want to make it just so big, it is just football, I'm back. I got past that part. Very happy to be back, but now it's time to win and help this offense and move the ball, celebrate with my guys. But, it's time to win. Let's win games."

Jaguars locker room mirrors Pederson as team preps for Colts

Similarly to Ridley, the entire Jaguars' locker room appeared calm this week. That much is likely an echo of what Pederson has preached to the team since the week of prep continued.

"I’m hoping that’s a reflection of what I’ve been talking to them about. I think if I’m calm, they’ll be calm," Pederson said Friday. "I think that’s where it starts. It doesn’t surprise me, honestly. It’s a mature group, even though they’re young, they’re mature and have great leadership. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re relaxed and focused.”

It isn't surprising that Jacksonville appears to have a solid mindset heading into Week 1. The team is coming off of one of its best seasons in team history, the excitement and newness of everyone in the locker room has died down and now they'll look to usher in a new team with grand expectations.

Still, the team is excited to face off against the Colts. The Jaguars have lost nine out of their last 10 road games against Indianapolis and want to right the ship.

"I haven't won there in the last two years, we didn't win either of those games so definitely have a bad taste in my mouth going there," Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence said this week when asked about the last time the team played in Indianapolis.

"We want to right the ship there, that's for sure. We didn't execute, I know that game was one of a handful from last year where, 'coulda, shoulda, woulda.' We could have won the game, we should have won the game, we had opportunities and didn't so they end up winning. We remember that and I think it's good not to forget that."

The Jaguars are 6-7 in Week 1 games on the road all-time and are 1-3 against divisional opponents in Week 1 on the road. The Jaguars defeated the Houston Texans in 2017 during the team's Week 1 matchup at Houston and went on to take part in the AFC Championship game.

Their other divisional Week 1 road game losses came against the Texans (2021), Colts (2009) and Titans (2008).

The team's confidence this week is at an all-time high, especially for tight end Evan Engram.

"This year is a little different," Engram said in the locker room Wednesday when asked about Week 1 excitement. "This year is definitely the most excited I've been about a team I'm on and the most confident about the team I'm on. My confidence is really through the roof about all my guys."

Into the unknown: Colts rookie QB Anthony Richardson presents new test for Jags defense

Jacksonville is set to proceed into uncharted territory this weekend when rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson takes his first snaps as an Indianapolis Colts player Sunday.

Richardson, drafted with the fourth-overall pick in this year's draft, is one of the most athletic QBs to come out of college since Cam Newton in 2011.

"You think of him, you think of Cam Newton. These are big, physical, strong quarterbacks that can also throw the football. They're athletic and it is a challenge," Pederson said of Richardson.

"It's a quarterback who, when you watch the tape, can break arm tackles. He can run for 15, 20, 30 yards and beat you with his legs. We got to stay disciplined defensively, we got to be a good tackling football team against guys like this."

Richardson was with the Florida Gators for three years, earning the starting gig just before his true junior season in 2022. Though he had a shaky year throwing the football consistently, completing just 53.8 percent of his passes for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, he shined with the ball in his hands and on the run.

Richardson was one of the most explosive players in college football last year on the ground, rushing for 653 yards on 103 carries, adding nine rushing touchdowns to his resume.

In one of his first starts for Florida during his sophomore season, Richardson went up against Jaguars outside linebacker Travon Walker when Walker was at Georgia during his junior season. Walker had a good game against the young signal-caller, intercepting one of his passes during the first half of the game.

Still, Walker knows just how much of a threat Richardson can be when he has time to showcase his athleticism.

"He's definitely a great athlete. You definitely got to be on your toes. He can run a little bit, get the ball out to throw, he's a great athlete," Walker said Wednesday in the Jaguars locker room. "Just [have to] stick to our plan that we have on defense and go with it."

Injury report: Johnson, Lacy ruled out for Jaguars; Moss questionable for Colts

The Jaguars will be without two rookies Sunday after both safety Antonio Johnson (hamstring) and defensive lineman Tyler Lacy (hip) were ruled out after a week of practice. Johnson did not participate in any practice, while Lacy worked on a limited basis all three days.

For the Colts, the team listed four players on the game-status report, including running back Zack Moss (forearm), linebacker Shaquille Leonard (concussion), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (forearm) and cornerback Juju Brents (not injury related - personal matter).

Only Moss is listed as questionable to play which gives Indianapolis just two backs, Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull to carry the load if Moss is unavailable. The Colts are already without star RB Jonathan Taylor, who is on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list and has requested a trade.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X,  formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.

If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Calvin Ridley ready for debut as Jaguars get set to take on Colts