FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who is away from the team indefinitely to work on his mental well-being, was placed on the non-football injury list by the team Friday.
He will miss at least the next three games.
The Falcons’ roster now stands at 52. They likely will promote a player to the active roster before facing the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday at Caesars Superdome.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith found out Sunday morning that his team would be without Ridley just hours before facing the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons went on to lose 19-13.
Ridley, the team’s top receiver, was declared inactive for that game.
Late in the game Ridley tweeted a statement that read in part, “These past few weeks have been very challenging, and as much as I’d like to be on the field competing with my teammates, I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing. This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future.”
Ridley missed the game against the Jets in London on Oct. 10 because of a personal matter. He played against Miami on Oct. 24 and caught a touchdown pass in the 30-28 victory.
Ridley has 31 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns this season.
“We are keeping him in our prayers,” wide receiver Tajae Sharpe said of Ridley after the game. “Anytime one of our brothers is hurting, we’re hurting as well. We feel for Calvin. We’re here for him whenever he needs us. Whenever he’s ready to get back to playing football, obviously his mental health is No. 1 and the safety of his family and his health.”
Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst has been open about his struggle with depression, substance abuse and his attempted suicide in 2016.
“So, Calvin, is my locker mate, if you will,” Hurst said Thursday. “So, me and him have had some conversations in the past couple of weeks. He knows that I’m here for him.”
Hurst and the Falcons have pledged their support publicly for Ridley.
“I think when you have stuff like that come up, as long as people around you make themselves available, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Hurst said. “I’m not jumping down his throat, FaceTiming him or calling him. I’m kind of putting the ball in his court.”
Players around the league, including members of the arch-rival Saints, have been supportive of Ridley.
New Orleans safety CJ Gardner-Johnson said Ridley’s mental well-being was bigger than football.
“You just pray that he gets better mentally and everyone around him in the league gathers around him as brothers,” Gardner-Johnson said to the New Orleans media Wednesday. “Outside it’s football stuff. Mentally, we have to make sure we check on each other (as players).”
The Falcons, who are considered long shots to make the playoffs, will attempt to carry on without Ridley.
“So, I’d rather pray for him to forget football and make sure he’s fine and his family is fine,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I know he’s got a brother (Riley), so I hope they’re together making sure he’s doing well. We’re not focused on what their offense is losing, just hoping our NFL brothers can get his thoughts back together and come back to the center point and play football again whenever he’s ready to.”
The Falcons currently are in last place in the NFC South behind Tampa Bay (6-2), New Orleans (5-2) and Carolina (4-4).
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Next Four Games
Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7
Falcons at Cowboys, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14
Patriots at Falcons, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
Falcons at Jacksonville, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 28
