JUST IN: Falcons’ Arthur Smith details explanation as he insists Desmond Ridder will remain starting QB1 despite fans and board opposition

Despite starting in the backup role in the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, quarterback Desmond Ridder is returning from the team’s bye week to lead the Falcons offense. According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN, head coach Arthur Smith insisted Monday that Ridder will be the Falcons’ quarterback going forward, officially ending the brief Taylor Heinicke era in Atlanta.

Ridder started the first eight games of Atlanta’s season, going 4-4. In search of a spark, the team chose backup Taylor Heinicke to start their Week 10 game in Arizona, but Ridder still saw action when Heinike suffered a hamstring injury in the second half.

Ridder finished 4-for-6 with 39 yards and three carries for 11 yards in Atlanta’s 25-23 loss, but he demonstrated enough to inspire Smith’s confidence. After the game, Smith praised Ridder’s performance off the bench, indicating that he’d recovered from his early-season struggles.

The Falcons are fighting for a playoff spot and return from their bye week with an important game at home against the New Orleans Saints, the first of two games between the division rivals.
Following the Falcons’ bye week, Ridder made his first career start against the Saints in 2022. He was 13-for-26 for 97 yards passing and 38 yards rushing on six carries. The game was won by New Orleans, 21-18.

Atlanta’s third-round pick (74th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft has had a relatively disappointing sophomore season, compiling six touchdown passes and 1,740 yards passing with six interceptions. Ridder’s QB passer rating of 39.4 ranks him 27th in the NFL for the 2023 season.