Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been away from the team since late October while he deals with mental health struggles. The Falcons placed the 26-year-old on the non-football injury list earlier this season.
As of Monday, Ridley is eligible to be activated and return to the team, however, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Falcons coach Arthur Smith didn't provide an update on the team's offensive weapon.
Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley is eligible to be activated off the non-football injury list this week, but Falcons’ HC Arthur Smith said today that he had no update on his standout wide receiver, who stepped away from the game to tend to his mental health.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 22, 2021
The lack of an update on Ridley's status from Smith is somewhat concerning for Falcons fans who were hoping to see the budding star back on the field for the second half of the season. At least some new information on Ridley would have been comforting, but fans are now left wondering when they'll next get a glimpse of the Alabama product.
Ridley last played for the Falcons in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins. He did not travel with the team to London earlier in the season for their matchup with the New York Jets due to “personal reasons.” He announced via Twitter on October 31 that he would be stepping away from football to focus on his mental health, thanking the organization for supporting his decision.
— CALVIN RIDLEY (@CalvinRidley1) October 31, 2021
This season, Ridley has 31 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He's featured in five games for the Falcons, who are 4-6 on the year and in the cellar of the NFC South.
Ridley's inspiring actions in prioritizing his own mental health to the game of football are significant, and Falcons fans should continue offering the young wideout their support as he focuses on his well-being.
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