Tag: Desmond Ridder

Falcons return to Desmond Ridder as their starting QB vs. Saints next week

Desmond Ridder is back in the Falcons’ starting lineup. After sitting two games, he’ll be their starting quarterback against the Saints in Week 12:

The Atlanta Falcons have decided Desmond Ridder will be the starting quarterback going forward, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This takes away the mystery of who the New Orleans Saints need to prepare for in next week’s pivotal NFC South showdown. Both teams have a bye week in Week 11, so they have an extra week to rest.

Ridder started the season under center and remained there until he was sidelined by a concussion in Week 8. Taylor Heinicke finished that game and started the next two weeks. When Heinicke suffered a hamstring injury, Ridder came in to finish the game, and he has now reclaimed his starting position.

His first game back in the starting lineup will be versus New Orleans. Last time Ridder played the Saints was the first start of his career — Atlanta lost that game 21-18 with Ridder going 13-of-26 for just 97 passing yards, taking four sacks, and rushing 6 times for 38 yards. This season he’s 4-4 as a starter while throwing 6 touchdown passes against 6 interceptions, having rushed for 150 yards and 4 touchdown runs. He’s also fumbled 7 times.

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Falcons Twitter reacts to Desmond Ridder being named starter

Twitter reacts to the Falcons naming Desmond Ridder starting QB after the bye

The Atlanta Falcons haven’t officially declared a starting quarterback, but it was reported on Sunday that the team plans to start Desmond Ridder for the final seven games of the season.

Ridder started the first eight games before the Falcons benched him for veteran Taylor Heinicke in the second half against the Titans. Heinicke started the next two games but was injured late in last Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals.

Atlanta is 4-6 at the bye week, but the team is still very much alive in the NFC South. Here’s how Falcons fans on Twitter reacted to the latest QB change.

Falcons to go back to Desmond Ridder as starting QB after bye

Looks like the Bucs won’t be playing a different quarterback in their rematch against the Falcons after all.

It seemed as if the Atlanta Falcons would have a new quarterback when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced them again on Dec. 10, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case anymore.

The Falcons initially announced quarterback Taylor Heinicke would be the starting quarterback for Atlanta, but after Heinicke played in three games and started in two, the Falcons are making the switch back. NFL’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that Desmond Ridder will once again be Atlanta’s starting quarterback after the team returns from their Week 11 bye.

Ridder has played two games against the Bucs, once at the end of 2022 and once this year at the beginning of the season. In those two games, he’s completed 69.1% of his passes for 474 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. That doesn’t mean he was turnover free, though, as Ridder fumbled three times against the Bucs in their first matchup in 2023 but won the game anyway 16-13.

So far on the season, Ridder has completed 65.4% of his passes for 740 yards, 6 TDs and 6 interceptions. He’s fumbled seven times in nine games.

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Falcons plan to start QB Desmond Ridder, per report

The Falcons plan to start QB Desmond Ridder for the remainder of the season, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport

The Atlanta Falcons have yet to officially declare a starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, but the team is expected to make the switch from Taylor Heinicke to Desmond Ridder after the bye week, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Ridder started the first eight games of the season but was benched during the team’s Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Ridder was sat down due to injury, but then Heinicke remained the starter once Ridder was cleared.

With the team sitting at 4-6, there isn’t a whole lot of reason to stick with Heinicke. Ridder has four game-winning drives, and whether or not you believe Heinicke is better, neither QB has been overly impressive thus far. Ridder at least has the chance to be the long-term starter for Atlanta.

Thus far in 2023, Ridder has passed for 1,740 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. The Falcons return in Week 12 for a game against the New Orleans Saints at home.

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Atlanta Falcons statistical leaders at the bye week

Atlanta Falcons: Statistical leaders at the bye week

The Atlanta Falcons have a lot to figure out before their final seven games of the 2023 season. Luckily, the team has a bye week to try and right the ship after a three-game losing streak.

Head coach Arthur Smith has yet to name a starting quarterback, but his Week 10 postgame comments led many to believe Desmond Ridder will take over for Taylor Heinicke in Week 12.

Here’s an updated look at the Falcons’ statistical leaders at the bye week.

5 ways Falcons coach Arthur Smith can save his job amid disappointing season

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is on the hot seat. Here’s how he can save his job.

The 4-6 Atlanta Falcons are facing one of the most critical stretches in recent memory, as head coach Arthur Smith might be coaching for his job over the next seven games.

Conflicting reports in recent days have debated the heat on Smith’s seat. The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz, who has been close to the team for quite some time, reported that Smith’s job is safer than expected, while The Washington Post‘s Jason La Canfora speculated that Smith could indeed be on the outs if Atlanta’s season continues its downward spiral.

Smith still has seven games and a wide-open NFC South in front of him, and he’s still got time to prove to owner Arthur Blank and general manager Terry Fontenot that he’s the guy to lead this franchise into 2024.

However, Smith is most likely going to have to orchestrate a quick turnaround or devise a pretty compelling post-2023 plan to stay at the helm of the Falcons past this January.

What do those possible scenarios look like, exactly? Let’s take a look.

Poll Results: Which QB should the Falcons start going forward?

Falcons Fan Poll Results: Which QB should Atlanta start for the rest of the season?

The Atlanta Falcons appear to be keeping head coach Arthur Smith despite their recent struggles, but the team has yet to name a starting quarterback for the rest of the season.

With the Falcons on their bye week, there’s still plenty of time to decide between Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder. We asked our readers to choose the QB they wanted to see start, and Ridder won the poll with 65 percent of the vote.

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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith declines to name starting QB

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith declined to name a starting quarterback when talking to reporters on Monday

The Atlanta Falcons have the week off but there’s plenty of work to be done over the bye. Since it doesn’t appear the team is ready to make a coaching change, the next logical step would be to name a starting quarterback.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was asked about the QB situation during his Monday press conference but said it was “a little premature” to name a starter, per team reporter Terrin Waack.

Smith said that Taylor Heinicke’s hamstring injury is “low grade” and that the team will use the bye week to evaluate the quarterback position moving forward. Heinicke exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss and was replaced by Desmond Ridder for the remainder of the game.

Ridder’s fourth-quarter touchdown run gave the Falcons the lead in the final minutes, but Atlanta’s defense couldn’t hold up against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals on Sunday.

Despite suffering a third straight loss in Week 10, Smith believes the team can turn things around over the final seven games.

“There is true evidence that we can right this thing,” Smith said, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic.

Smith did not give a specific timeline for when he would name the starter. The Falcons’ next game is a road matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.

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Ridder vs. Heinicke: Which QB should the Falcons start in Week 12?

Desmond Ridder vs. Taylor Heinicke: Who should Falcons start at QB in Week 12? VOTE in our latest Falcons fan poll!

The Atlanta Falcons (4-6) lost their third straight game on Sunday, a 25-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals (2-8). This team has some serious questions to answer over the bye week.

One thing the Falcons must do is name a starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Taylor Heinicke got the start in Week 10, but after suffering a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter, Desmond Ridder replaced him for the remainder of the game.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith has said he doesn’t want to play “musical chairs” with the quarterback position. So, which QB should the team start over the final seven games of the season?

Cast your vote in our latest Falcons fan poll below!

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Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke out for game with hamstring injury

Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke has been ruled out for the game due to a hamstring injury

The Atlanta Falcons have ruled out quarterback Taylor Heinicke for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Heinicke suffered a hamstring injury during a scramble in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Desmond Ridder.

The Falcons trail by five with four minutes left in the game. Check back for our postgame reaction and recap.

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