"The biggest growth we’re going to see with anybody in our room is going to be Riley Ridley," Furrey said on a video conference Wednesday. "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.
"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."
The Bears would certainly welcome a jump from Ridley in his second NFL season. A fourth-round pick of Chicago in 2019, Ridley had just six receptions for 69 yards over five games. He was a healthy scratch in 11 of the team's contests in 2019.
Ridley first landed on the active gameday roster for Chicago's game at Detroit on Nov. 28, and he was active in each contest the rest of the season. That status was an endorsement from the coaching staff after Ridley's acclimation into the NFL took time.
The growth Ridley had as a rookie is part of the foundation for what can carry him forward, Furrey said.
"He’s done things in the NFL now," Furrey said. "He’s had production, obviously late, but he’s had production. So he’s had that experience. He’s been around Allen Robinson, and he’s seen these guys on a daily basis, and so now you have a guy that’s going to be hungry coming in and showing up with all of those comfortable traits, of not worrying about those. He knows now he can do those things, and now he understands the process of what it takes.
"This kid is working as hard as he possibly can right now in preparation for that training camp. And so I’m very, very excited to get Riley Ridley into camp, and I believe he’s going to make some noise on our roster."