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Calvin Ridley

Foot concern for Atlanta's No. 1

Calvin Ridley hasn't been practicing for Atlanta, and yesterday we found out why. He recently underwent foot surgery, and is recovering from it. The Falcons maintain the procedure was minor (of course they do). I'm not going to be alarmist, but I think virtually any foot surgery needs to be taken seriously. He's expected to be fine for training camp, but it's definitely something to monitor.

Ridley is the clear No. 1 wide receiver in Atlanta following the Julio Jones trade, so his health is not only critical to the Falcons, but it's a situation affecting the player that should be one of the league's most targeted wide receivers this year. He's already been pretty good his first three seasons, especially in terms of scoring.

Ridley has caught 10, 7 and 9 touchdowns his first three seasons. That's while even while missing 4 games the last two years, and not opening as a starter his rookie season. His 26 touchdowns over that time span trail only five other wideouts, most of whom can be immediately guessed.

WIDE RECEIVER STATS, 2018-2020
PlayerRecYdsAvgTD
Davante Adams3093,75712.236
Tyreek Hill2323,61515.634
Mike Evans2233,68716.529
Adam Thielen2172,71612.529
Tyler Lockett2393,07612.928
Calvin Ridley2173,06114.126
DeAndre Hopkins3344,14412.424
Stefon Diggs2923,68612.623
Chris Godwin2103,01514.423
Marvin Jones1732,26513.123
Keenan Allen3013,38711.320
Amari Cooper2463,30813.420
Antonio Brown1531,83612.020
JuJu Smith-Schuster2502,80911.219
Cooper Kupp2262,70112.019
A.J. Brown1222,12617.419
Michael Thomas3143,56811.418
Kenny Golladay1552,59116.718
Allen Robinson2553,15112.417
Julio Jones2633,84214.617
Mike Williams1402,42117.317
DK Metcalf1412,20315.617
Tyler Boyd2452,91511.916
T.Y. Hilton1772,53314.316
Nelson Agholor1511,99513.215
Will Fuller1342,05215.315
Marquise Brown1041,35313.015
Robert Woods2663,28912.414
Robby Anderson1972,62713.314
DeVante Parker1592,30414.514
Emmanuel Sanders1982,46312.414
Curtis Samuel1701,97211.614
John Brown1472,23315.214
Jamison Crowder1661,92011.614
Jarvis Landry2362,99012.713
Brandin Cooks2032,93714.513
Cole Beasley2142,41711.313
Odell Beckham1742,40613.813
Michael Gallup1582,45715.613
DJ Chark1401,88813.513
David Moore781,16314.913
Julian Edelman1952,28211.712
Christian Kirk1591,92012.112
Golden Tate1581,85911.812
Diontae Johnson1471,60310.912
Chris Conley1191,58013.312
Zach Pascal1121,50413.412
Larry Fitzgerald1981,9479.811
Corey Davis1732,47614.311
Terry McLaurin1452,03714.011
Anthony Miller1341,56411.711
Kendrick Bourne1211,51212.511
Darius Slayton981,49115.211
Alshon Jeffery1141,44812.711
Breshad Perriman821,49018.211
Demarcus Robinson991,20312.211
Kenny Stills881,25814.311
Tyrell Williams831,30415.711
DJ Moore2083,15615.210
Sterling Shepard1892,10411.110
Courtland Sutton1171,88216.110
Marquez Valdes-Scantling971,72317.810
John Ross5173314.410
Mecole Hardman671,09816.410

So Ridley's been great, and the team should lean on him even more this year (although it's a new offense under Arthur Smith). They're saying he'll be ready for training camp, though seems likely he'll be limited early on -- too important to risk rushing him back.

Personally, I don't think this news should alter Ridley's spot in the rankings, unless we get into August and he's still not back on the field. Just one of many things to watch this summer.

--Andy Richardson

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