Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith came, he saw and concurred. Quarterback Desmond Ridder can’t deliver what the team needs over the remainder of the season.
Ridder has been benched by Smith, according to news reports. If you watch the Falcons, you know that this is the second time this season that the Falcons have chosen to sit their starting quarterback.
In his stead, Gwinnett football standout Taylor Heinicke will resume the starting role as signal caller. In three games for the Falcons this season, Heinicke has thrown for 498 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Confidence evidently waned after the Falcons’ 9-7 defeat to the hapless Carolina Panthers last week.
What Are Desmond Ridder’s Stats For the 2023 Season?
Ridder threw for 300 yards three times during the season, but was plagued by turnovers and bad decisions in clutch moments. Here are his 2023 stats:
| GameGame | CMP%Completions percentage | YDSPassing yards | TDPassing touchdowns | INTInterceptions thrown | RatingPasser rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17Dec 17@@Panthers | 60.060.0 | 152 | 11 | 11 | 79.679.6 |
| Dec 10Dec 10vsvsBuccaneers | 65.065.0 | 347 | 11 | 11 | 90.390.3 |
| Dec 3Dec 3@@Jets | 44.444.4 | 121 | 11 | 00 | 70.170.1 |
| Nov 26Nov 26vsvsSaints | 61.961.9 | 168 | 11 | 22 | 63.363.3 |
| Nov 12Nov 12@@Cardinals | 66.766.7 | 39 | 00 | 00 | 84.784.7 |
| Oct 29Oct 29@@Titans | 66.766.7 | 71 | 00 | 00 | 82.382.3 |
| Oct 22Oct 22@@Buccaneers | 76.076.0 | 250 | 00 | 00 | 107.1107.1 |
| Oct 15Oct 15vsvsCommanders | 59.659.6 | 307 | 22 | 33 | 66.566.5 |
| Oct 8Oct 8vsvsTexans | 75.775.7 | 329 | 11 | 00 | 111.2111.2 |
| Oct 1Oct 1@@Jaguars | 61.361.3 | 191 | 11 | 22 | 62.762.7 |
| Sep 24Sep 24@@Lions | 55.355.3 | 201 | 00 | 00 | 70.270.2 |
| Sep 17Sep 17vsvsPackers | 59.459.4 | 237 | 11 | 11 | 79.879.8 |
| Sep 10Sep 10vsvsPanthers | 83.383.3 | 115 | 11 | 00 | 111.8111.8 |
| Regular Season | 63.363.3 | 2,528 | 1010 | 1010 | 82.2 |
The Flacons are 6-8 with three games to go on an easy schedule. They are fighting for a playoff spot despite their record due to the abysmal play in the NFC South.