Calvin Ridley Sep 26, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) carries the ball during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Calvin Ridley missed the entire NFL season after he was suspended due to a violation of the league’s gambling policy. He’s now back with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is eligible to practice and play, but he’s still going to have to be a little bit patient.

This week, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that the team had to “pump the brakes” a little bit on Calvin Ridley to keep him from doing too much too soon after such a long layoff. And while this certainly frustrates Ridley, he also knows the decision is for the best so he doesn’t “tire myself out before the season’s here.”

“I’m having a hard time more waiting with this,” Ridley said, via Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union. “I’d rather just go a thousand, you know what I’m saying? So, that’s the hardest part coming here every day and just telling myself, ‘All right, we going to take it slow and we’re going to make sure we are good in the season.’”

Ridley is eager to get back on the field after such a long layoff and insists that he is still capable of playing at a high level. It will certainly be interesting to see if that truly is the case.

[Florida Times-Union]