Trevor Lawrence shares excitement to play with Calvin Ridley

Trevor Lawrence is thrilled to be throwing to Calvin Ridley. Although the receiver has been with Jacksonville for more than a season, he’s only now eligible to play.

A year-long gambling suspension knocked out 2022. And in 2021, he announced on Halloween that he was stepping away from football to deal with his mental health. Now, according to Lawrence, Ridley bugged him throughout the offseason to do more passing drills.

Training camp reports suggest that Ridley is dominating in practice. And last Saturday, he caught two passes against the Cowboys for his first real action in nearly two years.

Trevor Lawrence said Calvin Ridley bugged him for extra drills

The Jaguars won a playoff game last season. Now imagine the offense with Trevor Lawrence throwing to Calvin Ridley and a host of other talented receivers. In an interview with The Pivot Podcast, Lawrence talked about what it means for Ridley to play for the Jaguars.

“I mean, me and him are equally as excited to play together,” Lawrence said. “Because he obviously hadn’t played, he hadn’t been on the field in forever. So just seeing him, how he’s worked. I think that makes me more excited than anything.

“But he’s just chomping at the bit to go,” Lawrence said. “And just to see that and to see how he’s fit in with our other receivers. It’s been so seamless like him, Christian (Kirk), Zay (Jones), all those guys. … I think they just take care of each other, and I’m excited for our group.

“It’s gonna be a fun year and he looks good. He’s a freak. I mean, I can’t wait and then obviously Evan (Engram), that’s my guy. And these pieces are starting to solidify and you know, you need a good crew around you if we want to go the distance. And I think we’re, we’re putting together

Quarterback said practicing against Lions is better than game

The Jaguars and Lions conducted some spirited joint practices this week to prep for their game, Saturday. It’s unclear how much any of the starters will play against the Lions. That’s why Lawrence said that the joint practices are actually better than the games.

The workouts Thursday featured the first- and second-team Lions and Jaguars offenses going against each other.

Trevor Lawrence got to throw to Calvin Ridley. And the receiver tells folks not to worry about his long layoff from football. It’s all good.

“Everybody wants me to be rusty, right?” Ridley told reporters last week. “Why? Why do you want me to be rusty? I can play football. I’m never going to think I’m going to be rusty. … If I drop a pass, that doesn’t mean I’m rusty. I just dropped it.”