The Tennessee Titans are, well, not having a very good 2024 season. After firing Mike Vrabel and bringing in Brian Callahan and Dennard Wilson, plus adding Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley to the roster, the Titans hoped they’d have a better season than 2023.
So far, that is not the case. The Titans have put together only a handful of competent offensive drives and the only thing that saved them from blowouts early was the stellar defensive play. Because of how things have gone, the Titans are making player adjustments, trading DeAndre Hopkins and Ernest Jones IV to other teams.
The trade of Hopkins not only seemed to simplify the offense for Mason Rudolph last week, but it also made Calvin Ridley double-down on his workouts knowing he needed to be the top producer with Hopkins gone. That mindset led him to extra workouts ahead of their matchup with the Detroit Lions.
https://twitter.com/TDavenport_NFL/status/1851677122424606944
The result? He set a new single-game career record in receptions (10) and targets (15). Plus, it’s the most by any receiver since AJ Brown was a Titan.
https://twitter.com/TDavenport_NFL/status/1850835121194074333
After the frustration and complaints of not enough touches, Ridley did the best thing he could do for himself when Hopkins was traded: put in the work. He didn’t verbalize anything new, didn’t say anything off color or negative, didn’t really react in one way or another. Except to realize that he has to put the receiving corps on his back now that Hopkins is gone.
That is the mark of a good leader. More action, less words. If the rest of the team follows his lead, the Titans might have a better season than anyone thinks possible right now.
