Falcon Report

Suspended Falcons WR Calvin Ridley Provides Mental Health Update

Ridley won't play during the 2021 season.

Jeremy Brener

We haven't heard much from Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley over the past 12 months or so.

After playing in just five games last season, Ridley stepped away from the team to address some mental health issues.

While away from the team, Ridley placed bets on the Falcons ... an absolute no-no for any player currently in the league.

The information of Ridley's betting surfaced earlier this spring and he was suspended for the entire 2022 campaign, the final year of his contract.

Since his suspension, Ridley has maintained a relatively low profile, but he took to Twitter to address his followers Sunday morning.

He announced that he was going to visit his family in Guyana soon and that he was "doing great."

Given Ridley's mental health struggles over the past year, it's good to see that he feels that he is in a better place. Perhaps an extended absence away from football is giving him an opportunity to heal.

It's possible that if he weren't suspended, Ridley would be working towards a return to the football field this season. Instead, his betting suspension puts into doubt whether Ridley will wear a Falcons jersey again.

Ridley, a 2018 first-round pick, is in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal and will seek a new contract next offseason. His market is questionable, and perhaps the Falcons may be interested in a reunion. But for now, the team is focused on getting ready for the regular season with rookie Drake London leading the way as the top wideout.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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