The indefinite suspension of Calvin Ridley that kept him out for the entire 2022 season officially ended Monday, about three weeks after he applied for reinstatement.
Shortly after the NFL announced its decision to reinstate Ridley, the wide receiver, who was acquired by the Jacksonville Jaguars in an October trade, released a statement.
“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 judgement,” Ridley said. “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 gave up a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to acquire Ridley and will send a second-, third-, or fourth-round selection to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, depending on the receiver’s upcoming year in Jacksonville.
“The Jaguars organization is aware of the NFL’s ruling to reinstate Calvin Ridley,” the team said in a statement Monday. “We look forward to building a relationship with Calvin as both an individual and as a player. 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.”
Ridley, 28, is due to make $11.116 million in 2023 on the last year of the rookie contract he signed with the Falcons. He is currently scheduled to become a free agent in 2024.
