Frustrations are starting to boil for the 1-4 Tennessee Titans, specifically for one man in particular.
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley
Ridley signed the biggest contract for a wide receiver in this year’s free agency, but so far has been severely underwhelming(Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Ridley was shutout during Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and he let everyone know how frustrated he was.
He was targeted eight times, a lot of them coming in the fourth quarter and was only good for a nine yard end-around carry in the box score.
Ridley made it clear he wants to see targets earlier in the game.
“I need some of them in the beginning of the f—ing game, too,” the former Atlanta and Jacksonville receiver said after the game.
“S— getting f—ing crazy for me. It is what it is. I sucked today. I gotta do better.
“But I gotta get the ball a little earlier in the game so I can be in the game so I can play well, also.”
While Ridley didn’t call anyone out by name during his profanity-laced rant, Tennessee’s struggling quarterback, Will Levis, is probably the man that Ridley is trying to reach in his messaging.
Levis finished 16-27 for just 95 yards and an interception.
It is his fifth straight game with an interception, the longest streak in the NFL, tied with Patrick Mahomes.
Usually if you are tied with Mahomes for something, it’s a great thing.
Levis is in the middle of a horrific sophomore slump that is sinking his team (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)Getty
Unfortunately for Levis, this is the exception.
And it’s hurting his team, specifically Ridley.
Last offseason, the Titans signed Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract with $50 million guaranteed. It was the largest contract given out to a wide receiver in free agency.
Through five games, Ridley has nine receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown.
Tennessee did not give Ridley all that money for that type of production.
That is unacceptable.
It falls on Ridley himself, it falls on Levis and it falls on first year head coach, Brian Callahan.
They have to find ways to get Ridley the ball, even when Levis is struggling.
Especially when Levis is struggling.
And as Ridley put it, preferably some targets “in the beginning of the f—ing game.”
The 1-4 Titans go to Buffalo and then to Detroit in the next two weeks. The road isn’t getting any easier. The onus is on Ridley, Levis and Callahan to figure it out.
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