Falcons to Start Ridder After Bye

NFL Week 14 - The Atlanta Falcons are set to start rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder after their bye week, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Ridder will see his first start on the road against the New Orleans Saints. 

Ridder replaces Marcus Mariota at the quarterback position. Mariota has mostly served as a mobile quarterback, ranking 10th in rushing DYAR and 15th in rushing DVOA among quarterbacks this season. However, Mariota has left a lot to be desired in the passing game. The Falcons rank 18th by offensive passing DVOA. MAriota has averaged just 170.7 passing yards per game in his 13 starts, 32nd among all quarterbacks this season.

The Falcons drafted Desmond Ridder 74th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. Ridder finished his senior season with a career-high 3,334 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. The only NFL action Ridder has seen thus far has come in the preseason.