Tennessee Titans receiver Calvin Ridley raged at reporters when asked about his dismal performance in the team’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
The Titans made Ridley one of their top free agents this offseason, signing him to a four-year contract worth $92 million.
But Ridley, a first-round draft pick in 2018 out of Alabama, had his worst day yet in a Titans uniform on Sunday.
Quarterback Will Levis threw eight passes to Ridley, more than any other teammate, but he finished without a single catch in a 20–17 loss, dropping the Titans to 1–4.
When a reporter asked afterwards about his lack of involvementRidley replied, “What part of the game did I have goals in?”
Titans receiver Calvin Ridley raged at reporters when asked about his dismal performance
When told he had some goals in the fourth quarter, Ridley continued to give an expletive-filled response.
“Okay then, so damn, I need some at the beginning of the damn game too,” he said.
“S*** is getting fucking crazy for me. It is what it is. I was bad today and I have to get better.
“But I need to get the ball a little bit earlier in the game so I can be in the game and here with the team so I can play well too.”
Levis threw to Ridley twice in the second quarter and turned to the veteran with five attempts in the fourth quarter.
One was intercepted by Julian Blackmon with 4:52 remaining. Fans wanted a flag for defensive interference, but it didn’t come.
Ridley said he tried to beat his defender while looking at the ball. He didn’t see the safety coming.
Will Levis threw eight passes to Ridley, but he finished without a single catch in a 20-17 loss
Colts coach Shane Steichen said they knew Ridley was a great player and his defenders smothered the receiver.
“They played aggressively with tight man coverage in a lot of those situations and made big plays,” Steichen said of his defense against Ridley.
Coach Brian Callahan said the Titans can’t win without Ridley making a catch. Ridley did have one nine-yard rush.
“I’m sure he’ll be the first to tell you that was disappointing,” Callahan said.
“But he is one of our best players and we expect him to try and make some action points, but at the end of the game he didn’t succeed. We have to be better everywhere offensively.’
Ridley, who turns 30 in December, has been targeted 27 times this season.
He has just nine receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown. That play was a 40-yarder that looked like it had initially been intercepted.