Michael DiRoccoESPN Staff Writer2:13 PM ET3 Minute Read
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The NFL on Monday fully reinstated Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley from his suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Ridley, who on February 15 applied to have his indefinite suspension reinstated for gambling at NFL games, is now eligible to attend all team activities immediately.
“Today’s reinstatement by the NFL ends a challenging chapter of my pro career that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated misjudgment,” Ridley said in a statement. “I’ve always admitted my mistakes and this is no different. I have great respect for the game and look forward to the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville. I look forward to showing my new coaches, team-mates and the entire Jaguars organization exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and as a person.”
The Jaguars also released a statement saying they were excited to bring Ridley on offense: “Calvin is a proven playmaker and we’re excited to see him compete amongst and with his new teammates, first during ours offseason program in April and eventually into the 2023 season as we collectively pursue a championship for Jacksonville.”
Ridley was suspended for at least the 2022 season on March 7 last year after an investigation found he bet on NFL games for a five-day period in November 2021 while away from the Atlanta Falcons. A league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter last March that the league noticed Riley was placing parlay bets where the Falcons won out of state via his mobile device.
In a series of tweets after the suspension was announced, Ridley admitted his bets totaled $1,500 but said he had no gambling problem.
The Jaguars traded Ridley on Nov. 1 — sending the Falcons a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024 that could go as high as a second-round pick if the Jaguars take Ridley for commit to an extension. Ridley is now guaranteed a $11.116 million fifth-year option in 2023 from the rookie deal he signed with the Falcons after being drafted 26th overall in 2018.
Ridley has not played an NFL game since October 24, 2021. Ridley left the Falcons seven days later, saying in a statement that he “needed to step away from football at this point and focus on my mental well-being.”
Ridley, 28, had 248 catches for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns in 49 games with the Falcons, including 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. If he’s able to play at a similar level to 2020 ( 90 catches). for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns), the Jaguars could have one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Ridley will join a Jaguars pass-catching unit that was bolstered by free agent signings last year. The Jaguars signed free-agent contracts for receivers Christian Kirk (four-year, $72 million, $37 million guaranteed) and Zay Jones (three-year, $24 million, $14 million guaranteed) and tight end Evan last March Engram (one year, $9 million). and all three set career highs in receptions and reception courts.
The Jaguars ranked 10th in the NFL in scoring (23.8 points per game), passing (232.9 yards) and total offense (357.4 yards) in 2022.