News

Aug 22, 2023

Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley changed cleats to alleviate toe soreness

JACKSONVILLE — New Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley has switched cleats to alleviate toe soreness. Coach Doug Pederson initially said Ridley would be limited in training camp because of his achy toe,

JACKSONVILLE — New Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley has switched cleats to alleviate toe soreness.

Coach Doug Pederson initially said Ridley would be limited in training camp because of his achy toe, but Ridley found a solution by wearing different shoes on Wednesday. He responded by taking part in every practice drill, although he dropped at least four passes.

Ridley had left practice early on Tuesday, took off his shoulder pads and shoes and chilled on a metal bench. The Jaguars provided no update on him until Pederson addressed reporters before practice Wednesday.

“Just sore. He’ll be fine,” Pederson said. “We were sort of cautionary with him [Tuesday]. He’ll be back out there today and we’ll just monitor him and limit the amount of running he’ll do.”

Ridley was the clear star during Jacksonville’s first week of camp. He made crowd-pleasing catches every day and showed little rust after nearly two years away from the game, first to deal with his mental health and then because of a yearlong suspension for gambling on games.

The Jaguars traded with Atlanta for him in October, counting on Ridley to return to form and help build one of the best receiving corps in the NFL.

He caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020 despite dealing with a broken left foot. He had 31 receptions for 281 yards and two scores before sitting out the final two months of the 2021 season to focus on his mental health following a home invasion he detailed in an article for The Players’ Tribune.

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