BREAKING: Atlanta Falcons Bench Quarterback Desmond Ridder And Immediately Name His Replacement

TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 22: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

The Falcons have benched quarterback Desmond Ridder.

After days of evaluation, the Atlanta Falcons have finally named their starting quarterback for Week 9. Veteran Taylor Heinicke will get the start against the Minnesota Vikings.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith said Desmond Ridder will be as the No. 2 quarterback this week.

Smith said they are not focused on the long-term, just against Minnesota.

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) November 1, 2023

Head coach Arthur Smith said the move is just for this week, as of now.

The Falcons decided last offseason to go with Ridder as their No. 1 quarterback and it was his job to lose. Well, he lost it. Over the last three weeks, Ridder has committed seven turnovers, with four of those turnovers coming with Atlanta in the red zone.

Heinicke made his first appearance this past Sunday as he completed 12 of 21 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown after replacing Ridder, who was tested for concussion symptoms.

In his career, Heinicke played in 34 games with Houston, Carolina, Washington, and Atlanta, completing 63.7% of his passes for 5,920 yards, 35 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.

BREAKING: Atlanta Falcons Bench Quarterback Desmond Ridder And Immediately Name His Replacement
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