Tag: Desmond Ridder

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at QB

As the NFL offseason gets underway, we analyze the Raiders level of need at quarterback.

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ quarterback position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Aidan O’Connell

Backups: Gardner Minshew, Carter Bradley

Free agents: Desmond Ridder (RFA)

A rough training camp gave way to a ‘lesser of the evils’ situation with Gardner Minshew getting the nod as the starter. Four games in and the Raiders were already ready to make a change. They switched to Aidan O’Connell only to have him get injured, leading to the return of Minshew. Then Minshew got hurt and O’Connell returned as the starter the rest of the way. The result of all this was each QB finishing with two wins and neither looking like worthy starters.

Condition: Critical

Minshew is a prime cut candidate and O’Connell’s lack of mobility is a major concern.

This team needs a franchise quarterback in the worst way. After finally pulling the ripcord on the Derek Carr era, they have fiddled around with several different starters, none of whom are the long term answer. The result was two lost seasons and in the same position they were in before. Getting a QB this offseason is priority number one by a wide margin.

Revisiting the Rondale Moore-Desmond Ridder trade that nobody won

The Desmond Ridder for Rondale Moore trade ended up being the most nothing deal for both teams.

Last offseason, the Arizona Cardinals made a deal that made quite a bit of sense in retrospect. They send wide receiver Rondale Moore to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for quarterback Desmond Ridder.

When we look back, it ended up being a nothing for both teams.

At the time, it looked like a smart move. After three underwhelming seasons, it looked like the Cardinals were moving on from Moore and going to give Greg Dortch the role he had on the offense. So Moore would have been in danger of being cut later in the season.

The Cardinals needed an upgrade at backup quarterback that didn’t cost too much. Ridder, who had started 17 games and played remarkably mediocre in those starts, going 8-9, gave the Cardinals more experience than Clayton Tune, who was entering his second NFL season and looked as bad as any quarterback ever has in the one start he had as a rookie.

Ridder was likely going to be cut at some point after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins and then drafted Michael Penix, although that didn’t happen until after Ridder was traded away.

But the deal didn’t work out for either team.

Moore suffered a serious leg injury before the season and missed the entire year. He will be a free agent, so they didn’t get a single snap from him.

The Cardinals didn’t get a single snap from Ridder, either.

Tune outplayed him in training camp and the preseason, so Ridder was cut, although he did spend several weeks on the practice squad before he was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders and eventually even started a game.

So at least the Cardinals got some scout team help from Ridder.

Because they didn’t give up anything of value, neither the Cardinals nor Falcons really lost the trade, but neither certainly won the trade.

It was the most nothing trade the Cardinals have made in a while.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

When they last met: Commanders and Falcons

The last few games between the Commanders and Falcons have come down to the wire.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 24, Atlanta 16 – Week 6, October 15, 2023

Jamin Davis intercepted Desmond Ridder’s pass at the Washington 25 with 26 seconds remaining to wrap up Washington’s 24-16 win over the Falcons in Atlanta.

Sam Howell’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robinson Jr. extended the Commanders’ lead to 24-10 with 12:03 remaining in the third quarter. The Falcons had responded with an 81-yard drive in 12 plays, concluding with Ridder connecting with Jonnu Smith from two yards, narrowing their deficit to 24-16, but the two-point conversion failed with 12:38 in the final quarter.

The Falcons certainly had their opportunity to win the game. They drove 82 yards in 11 plays to the Commanders’ 7-yard line. However, Ridder then threw weakly, off his back foot, lobbing a pass into the end zone that Benjamin St-Juste intercepted with 5:13 remaining in the game.

On their final possession, the Falcons again drove the ball, this time 59 yards in seven plays to the Washington 34 with 31 seconds on the clock. Ridder dropped back and was eyeing Bijon Robinson from the snap. Davis undercut the route, and Ridder, having already predetermined to throw to Robinson, threw the pass right into the ’52’ of Davis, who made the game-saving interception at the 27-yard line.

The two fourth-quarter interceptions for Washington were huge. The Commanders had been outplayed all day as the Falcons amassed 402 offensive yards to only 193 for the Commanders. However, Washington won the turnover battle 3-0 and also benefited from a 61-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder.

Howell completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards, three touchdowns and a 119.7 passer rating. Terry McLaurin led Washington with 81 receiving yards on his six receptions, including a long of 22 yards.

The road win evened Washington’s record at 3-3. However, they would only win one other time, finishing 2023 a miserable 4-13, resulting in Ron Rivera being fired. The Falcons fell to 3-3 with the loss.

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Final injury reports, game statuses

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Final injury reports, game statuses

Find the Jaguars and Raiders’ final injury reports and initial game statuses for Jacksonville and Las Vegas’ Week 16 matchup below.

* indicates status upgrade from the previous practice

Jaguars injury report

  • TE Brenton Strange (shoulder) — limited
  • OT Walker Little (ankle) — limited
  • OG Ezra Cleveland (knee) — limited
  • OG Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder) — limited

Jaguars game statuses

None.

Analysis: Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said earlier Friday that each member of Jacksonville’s injury report was “fine” entering Week 16.

Accordingly, the Jaguars did not assign game statuses to any injured players, meaning starters, tight end Brenton Strange and offensive linemen Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff, will play against the Raiders on Sunday.

Raiders injury report

  • QB Aidan O’Connell (knee) — full
  • QB Desmond Ridder (hip) — full
  • RB Alexander Mattison (neck) — full
  • WR Ja’Kobi Meyers (ankle) — full*
  • OG Jordan Meredith (ankle) — did not participate
  • LB Kana’l Mauga (illness) — did not participate
  • CB Sam Webb (back/illness) — did not participate
  • CB Nate Hobbs (illness) — did not participate

Raiders game statuses

  • LB Kana’l Mauga: QUESTIONABLE
  • CB Sam Webb: QUESTIONABLE
  • CB Nate Hobbs: QUESTIONABLE
  • OG Jordan Meredith: DOUBTFUL

Analysis: An ailment appears to have broken out at Raiders’ headquarters as cornerback Sam Webb’s listing was modified and linebacker Kana’l Mauga and cornerback Nate Hobbs were added to Las Vegas’ injury report with illnesses on Friday. Each player is questionable to play on Sunday.

Guard Jordan Meredith, who did not practice all week, is doubtful.

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 16 against Las Vegas with some offensive momentum following a productive Sunday in their loss to the New York Jets.

One of the key storylines from the Jaguars’ defeat is their franchise record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who has emerged as one of the best young playmakers in the league. Jacksonville’s first-round selection will be a high-level target for a healthy Trevor Lawrence in 2025 and beyond.

This week against the Raiders, the Jaguars have a chance to add another win to their lowly season total against a team projected to be selected within the first three slots in April’s NFL Draft. 

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups ahead of Sunday’s late afternoon bout with Desmond Ridder and the Raiders.

Jaguars secondary and linebackers vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers

This weekend will feature two highly regarded rookie skill players, Thomas and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who have quickly become franchise cornerstones on their respective teams.

Bowers himself is on his way to a record-breaking rookie season as he is just over 100 yards away from breaking Mike Ditka’s rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end at 1,076.

Against a Jaguars defense that ranks last in yards allowed (396.4), Bowers has a good chance to break the record this weekend. However, there is a way to keep this from happening for at least another week.

If Jacksonville wants to slow down Bowers, match zone and heavy man coverage will be key. One idea is to allow Tyson Campbell to travel with Bowers and limit his productivity or play match coverage on the second level against Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, or rookie nickelback Jarrian Jones, who we highlighted in this week’s All-22 review.

Either way, Bowers is the best player on the field for the Raiders at the moment. Limiting him would clear a path for a potential Jaguars victory in the Nevada desert.

Jaguars RB Tank Bisgby vs. Raiders defense

With Travis Etienne Jr. back in the starting lineup, Tank Bigsby’s rushing production has varied. His highest rushing total in his last five games is 55 yards. Yet, he continues to create yards after contact and make defenders miss in space at a steady clip.

The Raiders’ rushing defense could provide Bisgby with a productive game. According to Next Gen Stats, they have the 10th-highest missed crackle rate in the league at 13.9 percent. Bigsby has the third-highest missed tackle rate in the league at 36 percent.

Those numbers translate on film as well. Bigsby has a strong contract balance and jittery footwork that allows him to create yards in space consistently. A noisy day from the former Auburn Tiger tailback could spell success for Jacksonville.

Jaguars QB Mac Jones vs. Raiders QB (TBD)

Close your eyes football fans. This is not the superstar quarterback matchup you might hope for this weekend. One of the paths to success for either team is which signal-caller can play a cleaner game.

There is a possibility that Aidan O’Connell will return to the starting lineup for the Raiders this weekend. However, Desmond Ridder could be in line to start again if O’Connell can’t go (or if Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce were to make another quarterback change).

Ridder was efficient on quick-tempo passes against his former team on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons, going 11-of-15 for 114 yards and one touchdown in that respect, according to Next Gen Stats.

Yet, he also demonstrated why he is already on the third team within one league year. Far too often, he put the ball in harm’s way and made inaccurate throws.

O’Connell doesn’t come without risk either but is a more effective vertical passer, potentially allowing Bowers to see more production downfield. However, neither are particularly great options.

Jones is also a quarterback prone to making questionable throws, including two interceptions against the Jets. He enters the weekend with a four-to-seven touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season. 

While he did give Thomas, second-year tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington chances to make plays, Jones’ knack for turning the ball over at the worst times continues to plague him. 

That said, if Jones were to put up similar numbers to what he did in place of Trevor Lawrence against Houston three weeks ago, there is a sound opportunity for Jacksonville to get its fourth win of the season in Sin City.

Busters for Raiders week 15 loss to Falcons

Where things went wrong for the Raiders in their loss to the Falcons.

The Ballers were made up mostly of defensive players. It was the offense and special teams that doomed the Raiders in this one. So, the makeup the Busters may not surprise you.

Busters

QB Desmond Ridder

This offense was severely hampered by the limitations of Ridder. He had several opportunities in this game, provided by the Raiders defense, on which he couldn’t capitalize.

Only once in the first three quarters did the Raiders get past the 50-yard-line. And even the one that did move into Atlanta territory ended with two bad throws by Ridder. Both were for Brock Bowers, the first was too low and the other was an overthrow and the Raiders settled for a long field goal.

Just before the half, he finally connected for a decent gain to Bowers. Then followed it up with another bad overthrow to Bowers and then took a sack to send the two teams to the locker room with a 9-3 Falcons lead.

The third quarter saw the Raiders offense convert one first down. One. The first possession, Ridder was sacked twice, neither were the fault of his Oline. Then after the only first down — on an Alexander Mattison run — he overthrew Tre Tucker, nearly threw an interception, and rolled out right and threw the ball away. He had one more three-and-out in the quarter.

To lead out the fourth quarter, the Raiders possession ended with two incompletions — one on an overthrown screen pass — and Ridder getting sacked. Again, it was not the fault of his Oline. Next series lasted two plays with Ridder throwing an interception, giving the Falcons the ball already in scoring range. It was just luck that they missed the field goal.

Most of Ridder’s completed passes came on the final two drives. But being flagged for a delay of game on fourth and three certainly didn’t help matters. It meant it would take an amazing play by Ameer Abdullah to keep hope alive.

STC Tom McMahon, S Chris Smith II

When’s the last time you saw three blocked kicks by one team in one game? I can’t recall ever seeing it before. But that’s what happened in this game.

Two of the blocked were on punts. Chris Smith was the personal protector and was blocking no one while a free runner got to AJ Cole. One of the blocks was a deflection that caused a punt to travel just 30 yards. The other was a full on block. Both gave the Falcons great field position.

The other block was on the extra point after the late touchdown. In this case, Michael Mayer was left to try and block two players on his own and that didn’t work out well.

Smith also missed the tackle on a 38-yard return to the 45-yard-line.

OC Scott Turner

Four times the Raiders offense started a drive inside their own ten-yard-line. And despite being backed up against their own end zone, Ridder lined up in the shotgun each time, often times handing the ball off. That’s a dangerous play as it mean the runner basically has three yards they have to run with the ball before they even reach the line of scrimmage.

The first time they did this was on a drive that started at their own three-yard-line. It led to consecutive tackles for loss and a safety to give the Falcons a 9-3 lead.

They did it again from their own three in the third quarter. Similar result. This time it was a run for no gain to start things off followed by two short catches and a punt.

The final time, they led out with another run for a loss. And the next play Ridder threw an interception to give the Falcons the ball in scoring range.

CB Jack Jones

The Falcons’ only touchdown was from some easy film study. Last week Jones bit on a sluggo off a pump fake for a long completion. So, with the Falcons at the Vegas 30-yard-line, they said ‘hey, let’s do that too’. And, so they did. And Jones bit, leaving Drake London wide open for the long touchdown.

On their second scoring drive, he gave up an eight-yard first down run and on their third scoring drive, he gave up a five-yard catch on third-and-four that put them in field goal range.

WR Jakobi Meyers

The first drive of the game, Meyers was given the ball on an end around and set up to pass the ball. But his target was double covered, so he instead took the sack for a ten-yard loss.

The next time they looked to Meyer, was to lead out the third quarter. He made the catch but pushed off and was called for offensive pass interference.

Next pass for him, he couldn’t get to it and it was knocked away. His first catch didn’t come until there was just over five minutes left in the game. To his credit, he had three catches on the drive for 26 yards and the Raiders would score the TD on the drive.

The final drive, he had a couple more catches. But also had one in his hands get knocked out on the way down. And on the hail mary on the final play, he let Jesse Bates high point him to make the interception.

C Jackson Powers-Johnson

JPJ gave up run stuffs for a loss on each of the first two possessions. The second leading to a three-and-out. Even on the field goal drive, he found himself blocking no one while the run was stuffed at the line.

The Raiders running backs averaged 2.17 yards per carry in the game on 17 carries. And while that certainly doesn’t fall on him alone, there weren’t any instances in which he was the key block on a run

T DJ Glaze

Overall, he seemed to have a decent game. But his holding penalty on the final drive was a killer. He was completely beaten on the play and his hold was about as obvious as you’ll see. It would take the Raiders four plays to make up for it, taking 44 vital seconds off the clock. Which ultimately meant the game hinged on Hail Mary passes, which is never a great bet.

See the Ballers

Raiders winners and losers in 15-9 defeat vs. Falcons

The Raiders threatened late but lost their 10th straight game. Which players and coaches stood out?

The Raiders looked dreadful for most of their Monday night matchup against the Falcons (7-7), but the Las Vegas offense caught fire late and had a chance for the go-ahead touchdown before a hail-mary attempt failed on the game’s final play.

The result was a 15-9 defeat for Las Vegas, their 10th straight. The Raiders were shorthanded, as quarterback Desmond Ridder started for an injured Aidan O’Connell. The defense, without star DE Maxx Crosby, played hard but only forced Atlanta’s turnover-prone quarterback, Kirk Cousins, into one interception.

Plus, the Las Vegas special teams allowed the Falcons to block two punts and one extra-point attempt. Here are the winners and losers after the Raiders record dropped to 2-12.

Winner: DT Jonah Laulu

Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu helped the Raiders defense get off to a solid start with a demonstrative QB sack early in the ball game. He also had a key play late as he dropped back into coverage on third down and batted the ball to the ground, forcing Atlanta to give Las Vegas the ball with enough time to drive down the field for their hail-mary attempt.

Laulu, a seventh-round pick by the Colts in the 2024 NFL Draft, has come on strong since earning playing time in Las Vegas. He finished with six total tackles and a QB hit in addition to his pass defensed and sack, the first QB takedown of his career.

Winner: DT Adam Butler

Defensive tackle Adam Butler was part of a solid pass rush effort from Las Vegas, notching a QB sack late in the second quarter. He also tipped a pass from Cousins that turned into an interception for the Raiders. He finished with six total tackles, his QB sack, a QB hit, a tackle for loss, and his pass breakup at the line of scrimmage.

Winner: LB Robert Spillane

Linebacker Robert Spillane intercepted Cousins on the Falcons’ first drive of the second half, giving the offense an opportunity they ultimately couldn’t capitalize on. On the drive following Spillane’s INT, the offense punted only for it to be blocked. It was Atlanta’s second blocked punt of the evening.

Spillane could have had an even better game, except for a questionable call from the officials. He was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty on Altanta’s final possession as he pressured Cousins on third down and forced an incompletion. Instead, the Falcons kept the ball for another set of downs before the Raiders could start their final drive.

Winner: RB Ameer Abdullah

Starting running back Sincere McCormick suffered a game-ending injury and running back Ameer Abdullah stepped up when given the opportunity. He caught a touchdown pass from Ridder to narrow the score to 15-9 with minutes remaining.

Loser: QB Desmond Ridder

Ridder was in a tough situation; he joined the Raiders midseason and found himself starting against this former team. He finished with 208 yards on 23-for-39 passing, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Ridder has solid ability, but the odds were stacked against him on this night, especially as the Raiders had just 65 rushing yards, and 28 of those yards came from Ridder. In the end, he couldn’t overcome the rough hand he was dealt, even with his last-second chance at redemption.

Loser: OC Scott Turner

It seemed that Raiders offensive coordinator Scott Turner was only working with half his playbook due to Ridder’s inexperience in the Raiders offense. He was also hampered when McCormick went down. His offense only tallied 249 yards.

But he’s on the loser list for handing the ball not once but twice to running back Alexander Mattison as the Raiders were on their 3-yard line in the second quarter. Both runs went for a loss, the second resulting in a safety. It was on a run out of the shotgun formation; the Raiders offense operated exclusively out of this formation, a sign of the limited playbook used by Turner. Mattison has been one of the worst running backs in the NFL this season, running for an absurdly low average, and had already fumbled earlier in the game. Turner was foolish to give him the ball twice there.

Loser: RB Alexander Mattison

Mattison trucked a defender on a second-half run, but he had a dreadful evening overall. He fumbled on the Raiders’ first drive of the game on a 3rd-and-23 run designed to set up a punt and then was eaten alive in the end zone by the Falcons. Offensive linemen Kolton Miller and Jordan Meredith are honorable mention losers for their part in the safety as well.

Loser: CB Jack Jones

Cornerback Jack Jones gambled and lost on the Falcons’ only touchdown of the game, a pass from Cousins to wide receiver Drake London. Jones was burned badly on a double move.

Loser: Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon

The Raiders special teams were a mess on Monday night, allowing Falcons WR KhaDarel Hodge to block two punts. The Falcons also blocked the Raiders extra point try after Abdullah’s score.

Loser: HC Antonio Pierce

Will the Raiders win another game this season? At this point, it looks unlikely, even with the Jaguars coming to Las Vegas next week. Pierce is running the show, and this losing streak is a terrible look for him as he attempts to remain coach in 2025.

He too was dealt a bad hand with injuries to Crosby, who is out for the season, and O’Connell. But Pierce may have to produce some of the magic he manifested late last season that led to his ascension to head coach. Time is running out, and his squad will have another shot on Sunday against Jacksonville.

Antonio Pierce had advice for QB Desmond Ridder who gets start vs his former team

Raiders will start QB Desmond Ridder against the Falcons Monday Night. Ridder started 17 games with the Falcons the past two seasons.

After missing the entire week of practices, Aidan O’Connell tested out his knee injury prior to the Raiders’ Monday Night game against the Falcons. The team deemed him not healthy enough to go and he won’t play.

Making the start in his place will be Desmond Ridder, who, as it happens, faces the team with which he started 17 games over the past two seasons.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce is a former player. He spent his final five seasons in the NFL in the division rival (Giants) of the team he played with his first NFL seasons (Washington). Then in his first game as Raiders interim head coach last season, he faced the team with which he won a Super Bowl. So he knows what it’s like facing his former team

“Yeah, you’ve got to take the emotional part out of it,” Pierce said of Ridder facing his former team. “It’s not Desmond [Ridder] versus the Atlanta Falcons. It’s the Raiders versus the Atlanta Falcons, and he understands that. Listen, just do your job as a quarterback. We don’t need you to be Superman and go out there and win it by yourself. It’s a team sport. Understand what we’re trying to do with the game plan . . . But more importantly, don’t make it an individual matchup. That’s in your past. You’ve moved on, got a great opportunity here. Worry about that.”

Ridder was a third round pick by the Falcons. And this offseason they signed Kirk Cousins to a big contract and drafted Michael Penix Jr with the No. 8 overall pick, making Ridder expendable. He then signed onto the Cardinals practice squad and was later signed by the Raiders.

The Falcons losing to Desmond Ridder in a revenge game would be the worst 2024 thing

The Falcons really, really, really need to win on Monday night.

The Atlanta Falcons have cratered after a promising 6-3 start, but their 2024 season hasn’t totally been lost. That could change on Monday night.

Atlanta faces a 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders team on the road this week that won’t have its best player in defensive end Maxx Crosby and will be starting third-year quarterback Desmond Ridder to lead its offense.

Ridder, of course, is the 2023 Falcons quarterback who was benched twice for Taylor Heinicke and eventually traded to the Arizona Cardinals in March after Atlanta signed quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The Cousins experience built real momentum for the Falcons until the wheels came off. The Falcons have dropped four straight games since beating the Dallas Cowboys in early November to get to that 6-3 record, and Cousins’ substandard play has been a leading contributor to the decline.

Turnovers and red-zone woes have submarined a once-humming offense with Cousins at the helm. Particularly without Crosby to chase him around, the Falcons quarterback should have a rebound game against Las Vegas.

What if he doesn’t? The Falcons losing to a guy they traded away in March with a guy they just gave a monster contract would be one of the most Falcon-y embarrassments the team has faced in ages.

Cousins not playing well and the Falcons losing a game to a team with two wins in December would heighten the calls for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. It would also show a Falcons team in free fall that can’t even get past the Raiders’ third-string quarterback who got jettisoned in the offseason to a Cardinals team that eventually sent him to the practice squad.

The Falcons can’t lose this game. They simply can’t. Their playoff hopes would basically vanish into thin air barring an epic Tampa Bay Buccaneers collapse and some real brazen luck elsewhere in the NFC that the franchise isn’t know to encounter.

The high-priced Cousins losing a quarterback duel to the exiled Ridder would feel like the death knell in a Falcons season that’s already going down the drain. While Penix offers a path to the future, this would be a pretty awful present situation for Atlanta to find itself in, and it’d raise some questions about the immediate status of the franchise. It’s up to the Falcons to avoid that grim reality and show why they’re still worthy of a playoff spot.

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Ex-Falcons QB Desmond Ridder expected to start vs. Atlanta

Ex-Falcons QB Desmond Ridder expected to start for Raiders on Monday Night Football

The Atlanta Falcons have gone through several quarterbacks since trading Matt Ryan away in 2022. Marcus Mariota, Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder each struck out as Ryan’s replacement and were eventually traded or released by the team.

Ridder may get a chance to exact some revenge against the Falcons in Week 15. The Las Vegas Raiders have listed starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell as questionable for tonight’s prime-time matchup on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”

According to a report from Adam Schefter, O’Connell is not expected to play. If this is true, Ridder will get the start against his former team.

Ridder has played in four games this season, passing 239 yards and one touchdown without throwing an interception. However, this would be his first start since Week 18 of the 2023 season when the Falcons lost to the New Orleans Saints.

Atlanta originally drafted Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Cincinnati. The 25-year-old appeared in 15 games (13 starts) before getting traded to the Arizona Cardinals over the offseason.

The Falcons replaced Ridder with free agent Kirk Cousins in March. While the team initially succeeded with Cousins to begin the 2024 season, the veteran QB has hit a rough patch over the last four weeks.

Cousins has not thrown a touchdown during the Falcons’ four-game losing streak and many fans are ready to bring in rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Despite these calls for a chance, head coach Raheem Morris isn’t ready to make a move and the team will stick with Cousins for Monday night’s game against in Las Vegas.

If Cousins can’t outplay Ridder on national television, Morris may need to take a hard look at playing Penix for the rest of the season.

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