Rookie Desmond Ridder has been named the Falcons' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. | Atlanta Falcons/Facebook
Rookie Desmond Ridder has been named the Falcons' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. | Atlanta Falcons/Facebook
After the Atlanta Falcons dropped a game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Art Smith said, “Every option is on the table.”
One of the most visible changes came at quarterback.
Rookie Desmond Ritter started behind center in the next game, replacing veteran Marcus Mariota.
Ridder’s ascension came after the team had lost four of its previous five games, a sign of Mariota’s season turning after he had gotten off to a hot start. Mariota had even been named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week after an excellent performance in Atlanta’s 28-14 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
The move hasn’t yet paid off for the Falcons, who lost a close game in New Orleans, 21-18. The next week, they were controlled by the Baltimore Ravens, losing 17-9.
Mariota’s future is unclear. He had signed a two-year deal with the Falcons over the offseason after the team moved to trade longtime starter Matt Ryan to Indianapolis. That short contract was chosen because many saw him as just a bridge until the Ridder era could be ushered in.
Atlanta, at 5-10 overall, is not in the mix for the wild card race.
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