Falcons BREAKING: Desmond Ridder Moves Back Into Starting QB Role for Atlanta
What's the old saying about "if you have two starting quarterbacks, you really have none"?
The Atlanta Falcons hope the old saying is nothing more than a wrong-headed cliche.
The Falcons are planning to flip back to Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback when they come off their bye in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, per multiple reports.
This will be a change from the last two weeks, when second-year man Ridder sat and watched in favor of veteran Taylor Heinicke.
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This might not only be a "career-making decision" for Ridder and for Heinicke; head coach Arthur Smith is surely feeling some heat to get this right as Atlanta's quarterback situation has been in flux for, really, two years.
Ridder started the Falcons' first eight games this season but then against Washington threw three interceptions, and then against Tampa Bay lost three red-zone fumbles the following week against Tampa Bay.
What was involved in that benching? "A lot of variables," Smith said.
What is involved next? After the bye, the 4-6 Falcons play the Saints, with Atlanta trailing New Orleans by just one game in the NFC South. It'll be Ridder's job in part now to lead the chase, with Smith determining that his 2022 third-round draft selection is best-qualified to do so.
And it'll be Arthur Smith's job to get this right. If he doesn't, he could be looking for a new job next year alongside both Heinicke and Ridder as the Falcons look to clean house.
