Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans’ offense entered the 2025 season with optimism, thanks in large part to the presence of star wide receiver Calvin Ridley—a dynamic playmaker who had emerged as quarterback Will Levis’ top target. Through the first seven weeks, Ridley led the team in receptions (42), receiving yards (610), and touchdown catches (5), using his speed and route-running precision to stretch defenses and create opportunities for teammates. But when Ridley suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Titans’ offense lost its centerpiece—and the struggles that followed have laid bare just how integral he was to the unit’s success. Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans explores the ripple effects of Ridley’s absence, the challenges the Titans have faced in replacing him, and why the offense has yet to regain its early-season momentum.

Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans begins with the statistical drop-off that defined the offense in Ridley’s absence. In the seven games with Ridley, the Titans averaged 24.1 points per game and 350 total yards per game, with Levis posting a 92.3 passer rating—career highs for the third-year quarterback. In the five games after Ridley’s injury, those numbers plummeted: the Titans averaged just 16.8 points per game, 290 total yards per game, and Levis’ passer rating fell to 76.4. The most glaring gap was in deep passing: with Ridley on the field, the Titans completed 45% of their passes thrown 20+ yards downfield, with 4 touchdowns. Without him, that completion rate dropped to 28%, and the Titans failed to record a single deep touchdown. “Calvin was our deep threat—he forced defenses to play back, which opened up the run game and short passing game,” said Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. “Without him, defenses can crowd the box and focus on stopping our running backs. It’s changed everything about how we attack.” The struggles were evident in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where the Titans scored just 13 points and managed only 265 total yards—their lowest output of the season at the time.

Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans delves into the Titans’ failed attempts to replace Ridley with existing talent. The team initially turned to second-year wide receiver Treylon Burks and veteran Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to fill the void, but neither has been able to replicate Ridley’s production. Burks, a former first-round pick, has shown flashes of potential—recording 25 receptions for 320 yards in Ridley’s absence—but he’s struggled with consistency, dropping 4 passes in the last three games. Westbrook-Ikhine, meanwhile, has been reliable but lacks Ridley’s speed, limiting his ability to stretch defenses. The Titans also experimented with using tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo more in the passing game, but Okonkwo has been targeted heavily by defenses, drawing double teams that leave other receivers with fewer opportunities. “We’ve tried to spread the ball around, but no one has been able to step up and be that No. 1 receiver,” said Levis after a Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans. “Calvin made my job easier—he’d get open even when defenses focused on him. Right now, we’re still figuring out how to compensate.”

Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans examines how opposing defenses have adjusted to exploit the Titans’ weakened receiving corps. Before Ridley’s injury, defenses often deployed a single high safety to cover deep passes, keeping eight players in the box to stop the run. Now, most teams use two high safeties, eliminating deep threats and allowing linebackers to drop into coverage against short and intermediate routes. This adjustment has crippled the Titans’ running game: star running back Derrick Henry averaged 5.2 yards per carry with Ridley on the field, but that number has dropped to 3.8 yards per carry without him, as defenses can focus on stopping the run without worrying about a deep pass. “Defenses aren’t scared of our passing game anymore,” said Titans running backs coach Anthony Lynn. “They can stack the box and make it hard for Derrick to find holes. That’s a luxury they didn’t have when Calvin was playing.” For the Tennessee Titans, this defensive shift has created a domino effect: a struggling passing game leads to a stagnant running game, which limits scoring opportunities and puts more pressure on Levis to make perfect throws.

Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans explores the team’s midseason roster moves aimed at fixing the issue—though results have been mixed. In Week 10, the Titans signed free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler with over 11,000 career receiving yards, in hopes of replacing Ridley’s production. Hopkins, who had been a free agent since being released by the Arizona Cardinals in October, made his Titans debut in Week 11, recording 6 receptions for 72 yards. While his addition has provided a boost, Hopkins is 32 years old and hasn’t played a full season since 2021, and he’s still building chemistry with Levis. The Titans also elevated practice squad wide receiver Kyle Philips to the active roster, but Philips has played limited snaps, mostly on special teams. “DeAndre is a great player, but chemistry takes time,” Kelly said. “He and Will are still learning each other’s tendencies. We’re not where we need to be yet, but we’re working at it.” For the Tennessee Titans, these moves show a commitment to fixing the offense, but they also highlight how difficult it is to replace a player of Ridley’s caliber midseason.

Offensive Struggles Persist Without Ridley for the Tennessee Titans wraps up with the long-term implications of the team’s offensive woes—both for the 2025 season and beyond. With Ridley expected to miss at least two more weeks (and possibly return for the final two regular-season games), the Titans are running out of time to turn their season around: they sit at 5-8, two games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South lead, and their playoff hopes are fading fast. Even if Ridley returns, the offense will need time to reintegrate him, and the Titans may not have enough games left to climb back into contention. Beyond this season, the Titans face questions about Ridley’s future: he’s in the final year of his contract, and his injury has raised concerns about his durability. “Losing Calvin has been a huge blow, but it’s also a test of our team’s resilience,” said Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. “We have to find a way to win without him, even if it’s not pretty. That’s what good teams do.” For the Tennessee Titans, the offensive struggles without Ridley have been a harsh reminder of how dependent the unit was on one player—and until they find a more balanced approach, those struggles are likely to persist.