Wednesday is a big day for Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
The NFL suspended Ridley in March 2022 for at least one season after he gambled on NFL games and set February 15, 2023 as the first day that Ridley will be eligible to apply for reinstatement. Wednesday is February 15, so Ridley is now free to begin the process of returning to active duty.
Ridley acknowledged placing $1,500 in bets while he was a member of the Falcons during the 2021 season and they came at a period when he was taking a leave of absence to deal with mental health issues. The Falcons traded Ridley to the Jaguars before the trade deadline last year and he’s set for a base salary of over $11.1 million after his contract tolled as a result of his suspension.
Ridley only played five games in 2021, so it’s been a while since his last full season in the NFL. He posted 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020 and the Jaguars would love to add that kind of production to a receiving corps that will also feature Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in 2023.