The Jacksonville Jaguars had been waiting not-so-patiently to find out when wide receiver Calvin Ridley might be reinstated to the NFL following his suspension for gambling on games.
It appears that has now happened as the league reinstated Ridley on Monday. The Jaguars immediately added him back to their active roster.
The Jaguars traded a 2023 fifth-round pick and conditional fourth-rounder in 2024 to the Atlanta Falcons for the rights to Ridley, despite the fact that he was indefinitely suspended by the NFL over gambling violations at the time.
Ridley has admitted to placing $1,500 in bets while he was with the Falcons during the 2021 season. Ironically, the former Falcon was suspended for gambling on the team to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The wide receiver hasn’t played a full NFL season since 2020, in which he caught 90 passes for 1,374 with nine receiving touchdowns. He played just five games in 2021, as he took an extended leave of absence from the team to deal with mental health concerns.
“Today’s reinstatement by the NFL brings an end to a challenging chapter of my professional career, one that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated lapse in judgment,” Ridley said in a statement. “I have always owned my mistakes and this is no different. I have great respect for the game and am excited for the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville. I look forward to showing my new coaches, teammates, and the entire Jaguars organization exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and person.”
The Jaguars also released a statement, saying “Calvin is a proven playmaker and we are excited to see him compete among and with his new teammates, first during our Offseason Program in April and ultimately into the 2023 season, as we collectively pursue a championship for Jacksonville.”
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.