This Alabama football superstar is stepping away from the NFL for now
Alabama football is responsible for some of the best wide receivers currently in the NFL. Julio Jones set the standard, and the Tide have been churning out talent ever since. One of the best receivers from Tuscaloosa is Calvin Ridley, but he has chosen to take a step away from football.
In a tweet, Ridley told the fans that he needed to take a break from the sport so he could focus on his mental health. He said this is what he needs to do for himself and his future, and he finished by thanking the Falcons and the fanbase for their support.
Ridley did not give details on this break. There is currently no timetable for his return, and he never officially said that he would be back. While it may seem unlikely, there is a nonzero chance the former Alabama football star has played his last down of football.
Ridley became Atlanta’s WR1 this year after blossoming last season. This year, he has only played in five games. Over the course of his professional career, Ridley has 3342 receiving yards and 28 total touchdowns.
The Falcons have big plans for Ridley. This offseason, they traded away former Alabama football legend Julio Jones to save cap money. One of the reasons they chose to trade Jones was because Ridley was ready to step in as the top target in the Falcons offense.
At this point, Ridley’s production is an afterthought. He referenced his personal battle with mental health, and that is all that matters. Spectacular catches and touchdowns should not carry more weight than your own mental health.
There is no way to predict how long Ridley will need to stay out, but it was serious enough for him to tell the public. That makes it sound like he will miss multiple games at the very least. We’ll see what happens with this developing story.