Titans hype is through the roof after Calvin Ridley torches Falcons joint practice

The NFL preseason is always a time of extreme hype and overreactions, and for the Tennessee Titans, that has especially been the case after drafting Cam Ward first overall. The hype extends beyond Ward to his budding connection with Calvin Ridley. Tennessee's No. 1 receiver is entering into the 2025 season with strong expectations.

Ridley, despite being in a terrible offense in 2024, finished the season with an impressive 1,017 yards. Now, with what is expected to be a better quarterback in Ward, the thought is that Ridley will reach his performance ceiling.

Given what we have seen in practice and also in the Titans' first preseason game in Tampa Bay, the Ward to Ridley connection looks lethal so far. The team just had joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons, one that provided a measuring stick opportunity for Ridley, and he made the most of it.

Calvin Ridley shines in practices against one of NFL's top cornerbacks

Nobody will truly know if the Ward-to-Ridley connection is truly legit until the regular season starts, but positive signs have been consistently there. The one-on-one reps between receiver and cornerback at joint practice can be telling, and Ridley thrived in those sessions against the Falcons, and during team drills as well.

Throughout almost the entirety of Tuesday and Wednesday's practices, Ridley was matched up on an island against AJ Terrell, one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Not only did Ridley hold his own, you can say he outright won the matchup.

There are multiple clips of Ridley facing press coverage against Terrell at the line of scrimmage in Tuesday's practice. The veteran wideout used his great route-running skills to create noticeable separation. Ridley was one of the few guys who actually played well in what was a poor practice for the Titans.

One of the things that has been especially talked about is the deep connection between Ward and Ridley. Ward, a gunslinger, loves to throw deep, and Ridley loves to run deep routes. The two showcased that chemistry during a touchdown play in team period on Wednesday, something that did not happen on Tuesday, and was part of a bounce-back showing by the offense.

There were other plays that were made between Ward and Ridley, and it is a great sign that there are tangible reasons to be more and more excited about their connection as the days go on.

As mentioned, Ridley produced 1,000 yards last season despite the lack of a functional offense. Ridley wasn't always perfect, but he improved as the campaign progressed forward. He started heating up near the midway point of the season, and ever since then, his arrow has continuously pointed up.

Great players shine even when the situations around them are downright bad, and Ridley did just that with the Titans last year. There are still many unknowns in regards to Ward, Ridley, and the Titans offense in 2025, but it is not outlandish to hope he can return back to the trajectory he was on a few years ago.