FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – While some rookies may have had the usual pre-game jitters before their first preseason game, Calvin Ridley was not one.
Ridley kept it simple, according to the rookie wide receiver, he was "just going to play a game, nothing major."
Atlanta's first-round pick had just one catch for minus-2 yards and saw a very limited action in a 17-0 loss to the Jets last Friday night. Even though it was a minimal amount of work Ridley put on tape, he was still able to evaluate his play.
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"I thought I did pretty good," Ridley said. "I was in the right spots, blocked well. I thought I did pretty well [and] the coaches said the same thing."
Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones wasn't worried about Ridley not being ready for the moment by any means. The two former Alabama receivers have had multiple conversations about preparation and everything that goes into the daily routine of an NFL player.
Jones wanted to make sure Ridley didn't get caught up in the whole "rookie debut" conversation. Jones said he wanted Ridley to keep it simple and make it all about his personal performance, nothing else.
"He was going to be ready regardless," Jones said. "One of the things I told him was don't hang your hat on his debut. Don't worry about that, don't compare yourself or try to outdo someone else that's a rookie coming into the league. I just told him just work on his craft and just keep working. At the end of the day, you just have to better yourself."
