Atlanta Falcons Keeping Desmond Ridder 'Ready' Amid Latest 'Learning Opportunity'
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The Atlanta Falcons have made yet another quarterback change heading into Sunday's clash with the Indianapolis Colts.
Following their embarrassing 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which not only made it two straight for Atlanta but also saw them put on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention as they dropped to third in the NFC South, the Falcons will once again turn to Taylor Heinicke.
This means for Desmond Ridder, the former third-round pick, he'll be watching from the sidelines as the Falcons hope to win out in their final three games and clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2017.
“It will be a learning opportunity for him," Smith said of Ridder's benching. "He knows that. He stands in there, which not a lot of young players do. Again, it’s a learning experience, and like I said, there’s a lot of quarterbacks that have gone on to do a lot of good things. Sometimes you learn some tough lessons. He’ll adapt. I promise you he’ll be ready to go if he has to play Play two, and he’ll play well.”
Dec 17, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) looks to pass in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday will mark the second time Ridder has been benched in favor of Heinicke this season, as he suffered the same fate during the Falcons' previous losing streak. However, that stint on the sidelines lasted just a game and three quarters before a hamstring injury saw Ridder come off the bench in the fourth quarter to replace Heinicke against the Arizona Cardinals.
That is when Ridder regained the starting job as he led the Falcons to back-to-back wins over the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets before two consecutive losses forced another change.
While the latest switch certainly feels like the last one for the Falcons this season, as Ridder has already experienced before, anything can happen regarding injury, which could force him to play.
The Falcons will be in action next on Christmas Eve, Sunday, as they host the Colts. Kickoff inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET as the Falcons look to get back in the playoff hunt.
