Falcons QB Change: Inside Desmond Ridder's Benching, Taylor Heinicke's Rise
Taylor Heinicke had just left the Atlanta Falcons' facilities in Flowery Branch on Monday afternoon when his phone rang.
It was Falcons coach Arthur Smith, whom he'd met with earlier in the morning, delivering a simple message: Heinicke would be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts - and ideally the rest of the season.
For the second time in seven weeks, Heinicke's in, Desmond Ridder's out.
The move comes as the Falcons are in the midst of a two-game losing streak that has their season firmly at risk of going to the wayside, just weeks after holding sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
Perhaps the final straw came in last Sunday's 9-7 loss to the then-one-win Carolina Panthers, during which Ridder led Atlanta to just 204 total yards and one touchdown and threw a critical redzone interception halfway through the fourth quarter.
That may be Ridder's final play this season. It's also, in his words, the most inexplicable.
"The pick last weekend against Carolina was probably the dumbest play I've made in my career," Ridder said. "That was just dumb. It was one, as soon as it left my hand, wished could've had back."
The Falcons wanted Ridder to pan out more than anybody, with his third-round contract presenting an ideal scenario for team building.
And for a stretch, it seemed more than reasonable he'd be able to figure it out.
Smith, Ridder and Heinicke all noted Wednesday that Ridder put good things on tape. From Weeks 5 to 7, he averaged 297 passing yards, second-most in the NFL, trailing only Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
In Ridder's first 11 starts, the Falcons eclipsed 400 total yards of offense five teams, becoming one of just three teams in the league to do so. They achieved that mark in three straight games for the first time since 2018.
Ridder was also particularly strong in the fourth quarter, leading four game-winning drives, tops in the NFL, and ranking amongst the league's best in Expected Points Added (EPA) during the final frame.
But all the while, Ridder had significant trouble avoiding turnovers, which was one of his brightest attributes in his four-game, interception-free tryout at the end of his rookie season.
Ridder threw 10 interceptions and fumbled 11 times, losing six of them. He had at least one turnover in nine of his 12 starts, and at least two turnovers in four of them.
And that, at a premium position, just isn't good enough.
"Part of the responsibility of that position ... is to make sure we’re taking care of the football," Smith said. "You’re not putting things at risk. That’s part of the job description of the quarterback. That’s what pro football is about.
"What this league is and why the quarterbacks are compensated the way they are – there’s responsibility that goes with it."
Smith insisted he wasn't blaming Ridder, instead likening the situation to the responsibility he takes as coach to do what's best for the team.
And so ...
"Where we’re at right now as a team, we feel like Taylor gives us the best chance right now," Smith said. "We appreciate what (Ridder's) done, but this is what we need to do. We need to go win this game on Sunday against Indy."
Heinicke's first promotion came in the lead-up to Atlanta's Week 9 contest against the Minnesota Vikings.
It came under different circumstances, as he was riding a wave of momentum after entering in the second half of the Falcons' 28-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Ridder had been placed in concussion protocol at halftime, though he'd led the Falcons to a mere 3 points and 89 yards from scrimmage. Heinicke enjoyed a much stronger showing, guiding Atlanta to 20 points and 253 yards of offense.
In the moment, Smith stressed the change wasn't permanent, as there were things the Falcons needed to work through with Ridder. Heinicke started the next two games - both losses - and returned to the backup role following Atlanta's bye week.
This time around, the plan is much different - Heinicke is expected to start for the remainder of the season, but it still may not be final.
"That’s the plan, but you have to be adaptable," Smith said. "That’s your job. There are no perfect solutions sometimes. I take a lot of consideration and responsibility of this job because I think sometimes it’s easy to look like, ‘Hey, let me just blame something on this person or that person.’ There’s a lot that goes into it."
Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Desmond Ridder (9) and Taylor Heinicke (4).
Clutchpoints
The 30-year-old Heinicke has completed 41 of 74 (55.4 percent) of his attempts for 498 yards, three touchdowns and an interception this season.
Heinicke's experienced an unconventional career arc, going undrafted out of Old Dominion University in 2015. He bounced around practice squads, spending time with the Vikings, New England Patriots and Houston Texans.
His NFL debut came on Christmas in 2017, completing his lone pass attempt for 10 yards. He saw slightly more action the year after with Carolina, going 35 of 57 (61.4 percent) for 320 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in six games with one start.
Heinicke returned to Carolina in 2019 but was cut after training camp. Some three months later, he was drafted by the XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks but didn't play and had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations the following spring due to COVID-19.
From April to December, Heinicke was out of a job.
He returned in emphatic fashion, going toe-to-toe with Tom Brady in a playoff start for the Washington Commanders, and navigated through the next two years as a backup-turned-starter and back again.
It all led him to the Falcons' press room Wednesday in Flowery Branch, a short 10-minute drive from where he grew up and has him infused with confidence ahead of a critical closing stretch.
"If they told me (I'd be here in Year 8) as a rookie, I would have took it in a heartbeat, so the fact that I'm still here I feel like I'm doing something right," Heinicke said. "I was out of the league two-three years ago and I told myself if I get back in, I'm going to have fun and play every play like it's my last and that's been working for me.
"I feel like if I just keep doing that, good things will happen."
Heinicke now has a chance to lead his hometown team to the playoffs, with Atlanta likely needing to win its final three games to have a shot.
On a broader scale, Heinicke's been given the opportunity to make a statement about his future prospects - but he's not looking at it in that light.
"I thought about that in the past and I think it hindered how I played, trying to make some big plays and forcing balls in there, threw some interceptions," Heinicke said. "I think you go out there take it a play at a time and if your sole goal is to win and you win, that's going to take care of everything else."
When Atlanta signed Heinicke, it came with the pre-stated admission he'd be Ridder's backup. Smith made it clear in a press conference after the signing, and Heinicke said as such in his own introduction.
There was no open competition this summer or preseason - merely an understanding. And through it all, Heinicke's done exactly what's been asked of him, leading Smith to trust his track record with the Falcons' season hanging in the balance.
"Taylor has had a lot of success in this league in big moments," Smith said. "It’s why we signed him, but when you sign him on the front end, you better mean what you say. We said, ‘Hey, we have a young quarterback. Know you’ll be ready to play. Just before you sign your contract, this is what the job is.’
"He’s been a pro about that. I’ve had so much fun working with Taylor Heinicke and all of those guys in the quarterback room."
Ridder's journey isn't over.
Still only 24 years old, Ridder has evoked confidence in those around him that he'll stick in the NFL for a long time.
Smith has conversations with his young signal caller each day, offering reminders he's not the first player to go through this situation or make certain mistakes.
Telling Ridder he was benched a second time wasn't easy for Smith, who noted how much he loves Ridder and his tough-minded character.
But Smith remains one of Ridder's biggest believers, predicting great things are in store for the former University of Cincinnati standout - perhaps as soon as this season, should the opportunity arise.
"It will be a learning opportunity for him," Smith said. "He knows that. He stands in there, which not a lot of young players do. There’s a lot of quarterbacks that have gone on to do a lot of good things. Sometimes you learn some tough lessons. He’ll adapt.
"I promise you he’ll be ready to go if he has to play, and he’ll play well."
Ridder's interception against the Panthers served as a fitting microcosm of Atlanta's season - an avoidable mistake that ultimately cost the Falcons a critical game.
Smith shared he's unsure if Heinicke would be starting Sunday had Ridder not thrown the interception, adding how hard it is to be objective and disallow winning from masking underlying issues.
But in reality, Ridder's struggles went beyond that one throw.
In Ridder's third game back as starter following the bye week - a 29-25 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - he threw for 347 yards and a touchdown but lost two turnovers. He was productive, albeit while making too many mistakes to win.
In each of his other three starts, he completed 13 or fewer passes for 168 yards or less and one touchdown. He had just one turnover-free game, a 13-8 win over the New York Jets.
Simply put, the results just weren't there.
"At the end of the day, it's performance based, and obviously I wasn't performing to the ability that I knew myself and coach Art knows I can play to," Ridder said. "You look at the main overlying issues, the turnovers. Those are going to happen. Mistakes happen, but it's how you learn from them, grow from them and get better."
Now, Ridder's left with the harsh reality of accepting his time as a starter is all but done, perhaps his best opportunity to become a long-term starter in the NFL now down the drain.
"It's obviously tough," Ridder said. "I'm not going to say you're losing the job of your life as a starter, but I'm still living the dream, still doing what millions of kids (want to) grow up to do. Everyone wants to play in the NFL, and I'm blessed and thankful that I'm still here."
Ridder stood in front of reporters Wednesday and answered every last question. He did the same after his first benching. It's not an act, it's who he is.
The Louisville, Kentucky, native said he plans on continuing to work and get better with hopes of being the best teammate possible.
Ridder's still leading the team's offensive meetings, as Heinicke said he does a good job and there's no reason to mess with something that works.
Whenever or whatever Heinicke needs, Ridder's there - be it watching film, offering insight on tendencies of corners and safeties, or bouncing ideas off one another. Ridder plans on providing as much information as he can on the sidelines Sunday.
In essence, Ridder's putting words into action and showing perspective well beyond his age.
"Whether it's energy or whatever, I'm not going to come out here moping around, be sad about it," Ridder said. "I'm still blessed to be where I'm at. Still woke up today, drove into the facility of the Atlanta Falcons, blessed to be an NFL player.
"Any day I can wake up and have that and be able to provide for my family and myself, it's going to be a great day."
It's the second consecutive year the Falcons have changed quarterbacks for the closing stretch with playoff hopes dwindling.
Still, Smith pointed out it's a different team in a different circumstance with quarterbacks in different parts of their career.
Last year, veteran Marcus Mariota was benched for Ridder, prompting the rookie into a key spot for his future. Mariota succinctly left the team to undergo surgery on his knee and spend time with his newborn baby.
This left Ridder to work with Logan Woodside, who'd been claimed off the Tennessee Titans' practice squad just days before, entering his NFL debut.
The situation has given Smith greater perspective this time around.
"Things that you go in and maybe what your expectation is or what you’re emphasizing, and whether it’s short-term or long-term plan," Smith said. "Maybe things leading up to that, ‘Hey, what could I have done differently?’ In the moment, what happened?"
An advantage working in Atlanta's favor is there's no such instability in the inner workings of the room. Ridder's there for Heinicke, with no hesitancy on either side.
In fact, the two's relationship has perhaps never been better.
Hours after Ridder was benched, he and Heinicke hung out together at a Christmas party, alongside the offensive line and a few running backs.
They had Chinese food for dinner, refusing to allow professional developments to disrupt their personal relationship - with Ridder's maturity leaving a lasting impression on Heinicke.
"It speaks volumes to Des," Heinicke said. "His character is through the roof. Being 24 and going through the year he's gone through and getting that news and just kind of forgetting about it and having a good time, that's huge. It was a lot of fun, a lot of fun, guys were great."
The professional manner in which both parties have handled the fluctuation under center mirrors the attitude within Atlanta's locker room.
Smith has preached all season the Falcons have the right people, first and foremost, and they've remained bought-in despite losing eight of their last 12 games.
Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews, who's started a franchise-record 158 consecutive games, said after Sunday's loss he "truly believe(d)" Ridder was the guy for Atlanta long-term.
Still, Matthews said he and his teammates will rally around Heinicke and feel good doing so, with an encouraging practice Wednesday only adding to his confidence.
This is the steady response Smith expected from his team, even though stability at the sport's most watched position has his team on the brink of playoff elimination.
"Everybody is looking for consistency, but things happen," Smith said. "Decisions have to be made. You don’t really want the inconsistency there, but depending on the way your team is built, the personalities in that room, and throughout that locker room – these guys will rally just like they did around Taylor last time.
"That’s what it is. It’s a real team in there. Those guys will respond."
The Falcons started Ridder for the season's first eight games. Heinicke started the next two before Ridder took over for the four that followed.
Atlanta's 6-8 with three games still to play, hoping to avoid a 7-10 finish for the third time in as many seasons under Smith.
There may not be a "perfect solution," as Smith said, but the Falcons need Heinicke to be an acceptable answer - starting with a victory over the Colts on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"I just want to win," Heinicke said. "That's the only thing that really matters, that's the only step that matters, especially as a quarterback. We just go out there and win, that's really all that matters to me."
