Calvin Ridley Eligible to Return; Do Falcons Have Answers?

Despite a change in eligibility … The Atlanta Falcons will likely be missing a key offensive weapon for the forseeable future.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley is away from the team while dealing with a personal matter - his mental health.

And it appears Ridley's absence could be extended as the club on Monday had no real updates to offer despite the day marking the opening of a window for Ridley’s return.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said that he has no update on the status of Ridley, who was placed on the non-football illness/injury list on November 5.

The Falcons wide receiver released a statement on Twitter in late October that he will be "stepping away from football."

pic.twitter.com/q7OOoAKkdV

— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) October 31, 2021

Ridley did not travel with the team for its Week 5 contest in London against the New York Jets, the start of his absence.

Ridley’s absence still leaves a giant hole in the Falcons offense. He has 31 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns this year. Ridley has at least 10 targets in each of his last four games and led the Falcons with 10 targets last week against the Miami Dolphins.

With Ridley out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, rookie tight end Kyle Pitts becomes the top target in the offense, and wide receivers Russell Gage, Olamide Zacchaeus and Tajae Sharpe have seen more action.

It's uncertain as to how long Ridley will sit out, but what's most important is that it appears that his teammates and organization are supporting the former Alabama wide receiver during this difficult time.