Riley Ridley impressing Chicago Bears coaches at training camp

Riley Ridley is impressing and earning more reps in Chicago Bears training camp.

The Chicago Bears offense was a huge disappointment in 2019. The unit couldn’t move the ball regularly and that put more pressure on the defense to try to make plays.

One of the units that didn’t play as expected was the wide receivers. Allen Robinson had a big year, receiving a big part of the targets. Anthony Miller showed flashes of being a dependable second target, but aside from those two, there wasn’t much of a contribution from the other receivers (except for Taylor Gabriel’s performance against Washington in Week 3).

One of the receivers asked to step up in 2020 is Riley Ridley. He was the Bears’ fourth-round pick (126th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft but didn’t see much action. He didn’t get into a game until Week 13. He finished the season with six catches (on seven targets) for 69 yards. Four of his catches resulted in first downs.

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This season the Bears need more from Ridley. He has the opportunity to start at outside receiver opposite Robinson. He runs very good routes and has incredible body control. He has the strength to beat the defender for the ball and can contort his body to adjust for just about any throw. He reminds many of how Alshon Jeffery makes those great catches.

The Chicago Bears could use a breakout year from Riley Ridley.

So far in camp, Ridley is showing the coaching staff that he’s ready to contribute more this season. With the Bears limiting Robinson as a precaution, there are more opportunities to make an impression. Ridley is taking advantage of those added snaps, per the team’s official website:

"We go out and try to take advantage of all our reps, whether ARob is there or he’s not. But it’s big, when he’s down, to show the coaches and show the quarterbacks what you can do and how locked in you are."

As Ridley works harder and improves, the coaching staff notices what he’s doing, especially wide receivers coach Mike Furrey, also via ChicagoBears.com:

"I’m really proud of (Ridley). He’s come in, obviously like we’ve talked (about), he had that experience, he’s been around the playbook, but this guy never misses an extra walk-through. He’s always there. He’s trying to learn every single position."

Furrey also said that he appreciates how Ridley prepares. He said Riley has the makeup of a professional. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that his brother is Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Additionally, the younger Ridley is taking pointers from Robinson. Those are two pretty good players to take pointers from.

Ridley is battling with Javon Wims for the added snaps. There’s also Ted Ginn Jr. but he likely starts the season as the starter. If Ridley shows the improvement the Bears want to see from him, however, it won’t be too long before he ends up taking over.