The Atlanta Falcons have pulled the plug on quarterback Desmond Ridder for the second time this season.
Coming off Sunday’s dreadful 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons (6-8) are benching Ridder in favor of backup Taylor Heinicke, who will start Sunday when they host the Indianapolis Colts.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who’s been on the proverbial coaching hot seat, is looking for a spark after watching his offense generate only one touchdown against the league’s worst team.
Ridder, who has started 12 games this season, threw a critical red-zone interception on the Falcons’ final drive, leading to Carolina’s game-winning scoring drive. The second-year pro leads the NFL in red-zone turnovers with six.
Atlanta Falcons give second chance to Taylor Heinicke
Heinicke, now in his sixth pro season, has appeared in three game in 2023, starting two of them. He first replaced Ridder after halftime in Week 8 against Tennessee, after Ridder had been sacked five times and was feared to have suffered a concussion.
Even though Ridder was cleared to play immediately, Smith gave the starting role to Heinicke, who has a 12-14-1 career record as a starting quarterback.
Heinicke started the next two games, but he went down with a hamstring injury in the second one — a 25-23 loss to Arizona — necessitating Ridder’s return.
Ridder, who’s been the starter ever since, led the Falcons to victories over New Orleans and the New York Jets, but since then the Falcons have fallen to Tampa Bay and Carolina.
A third-round draft pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, Ridder is ranked 25th in passer rating and has 10 TD passes to go with 10 interceptions.
Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith needs a strong finish
Smith, who’s in his third season as the Falcons’ head coach, has a 20-28-1 record and is reportedly at risk of losing his job after the season unless he can somehow turn around the Falcons’ fortunes over the final three weeks of the regular season.
The Falcons, who are currently the No. 10 seed in the NFC playoff race, finish with Indianapolis at home, followed by road games against Chicago and New Orleans. According to the New York Times playoff simulator, the Falcons have a seven-percent chance of making the playoffs.
Because Ridder has yet to pan out as a starting quarterback, the Falcons could be in line in draft one of the several quality quarterback options in the 2024 NFL Draft.
For now, the Falcons would occupy the No. 10 spot, putting them in line to possibly draft someone like Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels out of LSU.