NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans made wide receiver Calvin Ridley one of their top free agent additions this offseason, giving him a four-year deal for $92 million.
Ridley, a first-round draft pick in 2018 out of Alabama, had his worst day yet in a Titans' uniform Sunday.
Will Levis threw eight passes to Ridley, more than any other teammate. Ridley finished without a single catch in a 20-17 loss to Indianapolis that dropped the Titans to 1-4 and left the receiver unhappy.
“I had targets in what part of the game?” Ridley said in an expletive-filled response. “It is what it is, but I sucked today and have to be better.”
Ridley said he needs to get the ball thrown to him earlier to get him in the game.
Levis threw twice to Ridley in the second quarter and turned to the veteran in the fourth quarter with five attempts. One was intercepted by Julian Blackmon with 4:52 left on a play fans wanted a flag for defensive interference that didn't come.
Ridley said he was trying to beat his defender while looking at the ball. He didn't see the safety coming over.
Colts coach Shane Steichen said they knew Ridley was a great player and his defenders smothered the receiver.
“They were playing aggressive with tight man coverage on a lot of those situations and made big-time plays," Steichen said of his defense on Ridley.
Coach Brian Callahan said the Titans can't win without Ridley making a catch. Ridley did have one rush for 9 yards.
“I’m sure he’ll be the first one to tell you that that was disappointing,” Callahan said. “But he’s one of our best players and ... we look to him to try to make a play or two and we didn’t get it done at the end of the game. We got to be better all the way around, offensively.”
Ridley, who turns 30 in December, has been targeted 27 times. He has only nine receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown. That play was a 40-yarder that looked like it had been intercepted initially.
It remains Ridley's highlight play this season.
Five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a team-high four catches for 54 yards, and he ranks second to running back Tony Pollard (16) with 14 receptions this season. He leads the team with 175 yards receiving.
“It’s not just Calvin,” Hopkins said. “It’s everybody. You know Calvin isn’t the only person playing.”
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Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
