The Tennessee Titans signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract as an NFL free agent in March. Over the first six games of the season, the former Alabama standout had 12 receptions for 183 yards and one touchdown.

Then came Game 7.

“We finally got to see the Calvin Ridley that we had hoped to see,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. “He made plays down the field, made explosive plays, made big plays on the ball when it was near him. Just a really impressive performance, and one that we have to continue.”

Ridley had 10 receptions for 143 yards in Tennessee’s 52-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

“I just worked,” Ridley said, “and it showed up.”

Ridley worked even though he practiced fully with his teammates on only one day because of a foot injury.

“I probably beat everybody here every morning that week,” Ridley said. “I wasn’t on the field, but I did still work. I worked every moment I was here throughout the day.”

Callahan lauded Ridley for working to turn around his production.

“You go through a slump or a struggle,” Callahan said, “and you look at yourself and you figure out: What can I do differently? How can I get myself through this. We just got a new tennis-ball machine that came in last week, so he’s out there at the walkthrough catching tennis balls, before practice, after practice.

“The thing that was the most impressive, and I actually showed it to our team, just as a guy trying to do what he can do to make himself better and to help our team. I think Tuesday morning, all of a sudden, it’s about 7 o’clock, and I hear the JUGS machine running outside my office. And I look out, and Calvin’s out there with his helmet on and one of the equipment guys and they’re firing JUGS. He caught probably 200-some balls, I imagine. Not playing the way he wanted to and decided to do something that would either change that or help that, and I commend him for trying to find a way to get better.”

Ridley’s big game came four days after the Titans traded five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Not really, man,” Ridley said if Hopkins’ departure had cleared the way to his big game. “I just, like I said, I didn’t play that good for a couple weeks or whether it’s this season, and I just told myself I’m going to play good.”

Hopkins had not produced much more than Ridley through the first six games with 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown.

“Hard to say that that would have anything to do with it,” Callahan said about the Hopkins trade and Ridley’s breakout. “More importantly, I thought Calvin did all the things he was supposed to do to get open, and then the ball was thrown, it was delivered on time and really put in the spots for him to go make plays on it, which was great, and he made the plays that came to him.

“Finding more ways to use him for me. Just more different ways we can move him in the formation and routes we can put him on. We knew we were going to see a heavy dose of man coverage against Detroit. That’s kind of who they are. They’re good at it, and so we felt like we could manufacturer a matchup or two. Moved Calvin inside some and got him on (safety Brian) Branch and on their nickel, 21 (Amik Robertson), so just some things we did maybe a little bit different for him to get him the ball, but, hopefully, that’s the standard for him.”

Ridley said it should be.

“I should have all the games like that,” Ridley said. “And then we’re not that good right now, so it doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter. I didn’t really do anything to help.”

The Titans play the New England Patriots at noon CST Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans have a 1-6 record. The Patriots are 1-6.

Ridley had his big game with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph doing the throwing. No. 1 QB Will Levis missed the past two games because of a shoulder injury. Levis practiced on a limited basis in preparation for Sunday’s game, and his participation status is listed as questionable.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.