The Tennessee Titans have had a disastrous start to the 2025 season, and their road only appears to be getting tougher ahead. While it was expected that rookie Cam Ward would need to adjust to the pace of the NFL, the rest of the offense hasn’t delivered either, putting more pressure on the rookie QB.
That struggle bottomed out in Sunday’s 26-0 shutout loss to the Houston Texans, and now a new concern has emerged. Star wide receiver Calvin Ridley, expected to be the focal point of the passing game, is facing questions about his health and what role he’ll play moving forward, a troubling development for an offense already searching for answers.
Is Calvin Ridley Expected To Play in Week 5?
Ridley’s workload dipped noticeably during Sunday’s 26-0 loss to the Texans. Jim Wyatt of the Titans’ official site reported earlier that, as per head coach Brian Callahan, Ridley’s reduced snaps were due to injury concerns.
It’s now clear those concerns were serious. On Wednesday’s injury report, Ridley was listed as a DNP with knee and elbow issues. He also missed practice on Thursday, but returned to practice on Friday, and is officially listed as questionable for Week 5.
#Titans WR Calvin Ridley (knee/elbow) returned to practice today on a limited basis and is officially questionable for Sunday’s game at Arizona.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 3, 2025
He was visibly uncomfortable against Houston and did not play at all in the fourth quarter, finishing with a season-low 54 percent snap share. That’s a steep drop from the 86 percent or more he logged in each of Tennessee’s first three games.
The reduced usage led to another disappointing stat line: two catches for 30 yards on three targets. Ridley has yet to score a touchdown this season and has been held under 30 yards in three of four games. He’s managed just 10 receptions for 141 yards on 24 targets.
His efficiency has also been a problem. Among wideouts with at least 10 targets this season, his 41.7 percent catch rate ranks fifth-worst. The advanced numbers confirm that underperformance, with PFSN’s WR Impact metric placing Ridley at 78th among all receivers, far below expectations for a player of his caliber.
For now, Ridley is considered day-to-day ahead of Week 5. The Titans will be forced to shuffle their receiving corps if he’s sidelined. Rookie Elic Ayomanor, who leads the team with 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns, will certainly assume the WR1 role, with veterans Tyler Lockett, Chimere Dike, and Van Jefferson being the top candidates for expanded snaps.
Tennessee could also turn to running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears as dual receiving options, particularly with Spears trending toward a return from injury. The Titans desperately need a spark, and Ridley’s health concerns only make a rebound tougher for the team. Without him operating at full strength, Tennessee faces an uphill climb to find consistency and to keep pace in an AFC South that’s already slipping away from them.
