The Atlanta Falcons entered this season relying on second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder as their starter this season. And after a particularly brutal performance in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, it sounds like the team is still willing to stick with him going forward.
Desmond Ridder did not have a great game on Sunday afternoon, going just 19 for 31 on his passing attempts with 191 yards and a touchdown along with two interceptions – one of which was a pick-six.
Despite this, Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith announced that Desmond Ridder would still be the team’s starting quarterback as the team prepares to take on the Houston Texans next week.
Falcons HC Arthur Smith tells reporters that Desmond Ridder remains the starting QB.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 2, 2023
“Falcons HC Arthur Smith tells reporters that Desmond Ridder remains the starting QB,” reporter Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network said in a post on X, the social media website formerly known as Twitter.
It’s a pretty clear message that the team is willing to stick by Ridder despite his struggles, and the NFL world had plenty to say about it on social media as a result.
Having this question asked in Week 4 is the worst-case scenario for the #Falcons. https://t.co/FyywR3JL7P
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) October 2, 2023
Week 6 Taylor Heinicke watch is on… https://t.co/geaOXrSplN
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) October 2, 2023
We're doing this already?
We'll see Heinicke by Halloween https://t.co/j6zZDUf0KW
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) October 2, 2023
Keep the faith. Arthur Smith knows what he is doing people. He really dOeS. https://t.co/nS3kzVlPdL
— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 2, 2023
Falcons opened Week 5 at -2.5 hosting the Houston Texans, now +1 (not saying because of this report) https://t.co/kiQyJy7skS
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@SpielbergerBrad) October 2, 2023
hopefully they don't wait until the bye week to make the switch (6 more games) https://t.co/TbISM5BYi4
— rob (@rob_b1991) October 2, 2023
We’ll have to see whether or not Ridder can bounce back from this performance against the Houston Texans during the game next week.
