Riley Ridley didn't get much playing time in his rookie season with the Chicago Bears in 2019. Nonetheless, entering his second year in the NFL, Bears wide receivers coach Mike Furrey believes Ridley is poised to break out in 2020.
In a conversation with Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Furrey envisions Ridley having a more productive sophomore campaign with the Bears:
“I think the biggest growth we’re going to see with anybody in our room is going to be Riley Ridley …
“His preparation right now, his attitude, his desire, the passion he has to become successful in this game — he loves the process … And I believe when you love the process, it’s going to be successful.”
Last offseason, the Bears took Ridley in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Georgia. While he's a polished route runner, Ridley needed time to learn the other aspects of being an NFL wideout.
In his rookie season with the Bears, Ridley did not receive playing time until Week 13. Altogether, in the final five weeks of the season, the Georgia product hauled in just six passes for 69 yards.
His best game came against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17, with him recording three receptions for 54 yards. Following Ridley's standout performance to end last season, Furrey is “excited” to see what's in store for the Bears receiver in 2020:
“And so I’m excited about Riley. From the time we left the last snap last year to where we will be this training camp, you’re going to have a guy coming in that now has the confidence he can play in the NFL. He’s done things in the NFL now. He’s had production — obviously late, but he’s had production.”
With Taylor Gabriel gone, expect Ridley to see an expanded role in Chicago's passing attack in 2020.
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