Stevan Ridley: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent RB

Timothy RappMar 10, 2015

Free-agent running back Stevan Ridley continues to recover from knee surgery, but has reportedly found a new home with the New York Jets.

Continue for updates.

Ridley Reportedly Signs With Jets

Wednesday, April 8

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Ridley is signing with the New York Jets.

On April 2, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that Ridley left New York without a deal. Ridley had an extended visit with the Jets ands stayed in New York overnight, per Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

Ridley to Visit Redskins

Tuesday, April 7

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that Ridley plans to meet with the Redskins on Tuesday.

Ridley Seeking to Add Value to New Team

Sunday, March 29

Ridley's NFL career has been a conflicted one.

On one hand, he's proved to be a talented runner between the tackles and has a 1,000-yard season under his belt. On the other, he's struggled with injuries and ball-security issues during his time in the NFL, a major reason why the New England Patriots seem unlikely to re-sign him this offseason.

Well, that and the presence of LeGarrette Blount, James White and Brandon Bolden.

But Ridley has flashed enough talent in his young career to garner some interest in free agency. He looked like he was going to be the running back of the future for New England in 2012, finishing with 1,263 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He missed two games in 2013 and saw both his rushing yards (773) and touchdowns (seven) decline, losing carries in large part to his four lost fumbles.

He was having an up-and-down season for the Patriots in 2014, appearing in six games and finishing with 340 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but he was lost in Week 6 for the year, tearing his ACL and MCL in a game against the Buffalo Bills.

Ridley has talent, though—there's no question about that. A team looking to add another running back would be wise to give him a long look. He probably cannot be trusted as a lead back at this point given his fumbling woes, but in a platoon as the between-the-tackles masher, he still has the ability to excel.

In New England, he became surplus to requirements. For another team that needs to add some muscle in the running game, however, he might be a solid fit.