Desmond Ridder Injury News & Updates

Ridder signed with the Vikings' practice squad Thursday.

The quarterback was with the team earlier in the season when J.J. McCarthy was sidelined with an ankle injury, but he was waived in early October. With McCarthy now working through the concussion protocol and Carson Wentz out for the year with a shoulder injury, Ridder is back. Max Brosmer is taking first-team reps for the Vikings this week, though McCarthy did practice on a limited basis Wednesday.

Minnesota waived Ridder on Saturday.

Ridder joined the team in September after J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury but didn't see any playing time. The Vikings are now left with Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer as the only healthy quarterbacks on their roster for Sunday's game versus the Browns.

Ridder (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the Vikings' emergency third quarterback against the Bengals on Sunday.

Ridder wasn't able to make the Bengals' 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but he caught on with the Vikings this past Tuesday to provide depth at quarterback due to J.J. McCarthy (ankle) being sidelined. As the emergency third quarterback, Ridder is prohibited from playing Sunday unless Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer were both to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Ridder agreed to a contract with the Vikings on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will avoid a stint on injured reserve, but since he's considered week-to-week and is likely to miss multiple games, the Vikings will bring Ridder aboard to bolster their depth under center. Carson Wentz looks on track to replace McCarthy as the Vikings' starter beginning with Sunday's game against the Bengals, but Ridder could eventually displace undrafted rookie Max Brosmer for the top backup job. A 2022 third-round pick, Ridder has made 25 appearances (18 starts) through his first three NFL seasons between stops with the Falcons and Raiders, completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 6.8 yards per attempt and a 16:14 TD:INT while adding 293 yards and five scores on the ground.

The Bengals waived Ridder on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ridder inked with Cincinnati in July and spent training camp and the preseason with the team, but he ultimately couldn't push Jake Browning for the No. 2 quarterback gig behind Joe Burrow. After now having picked up the Bengals' scheme, however, Ridder will be a strong candidate for a practice-squad spot if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Ridder signed a contract with the Bengals on Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ridder heads back to the city where he played college football in Cincinnati, as he'll join his third team in the last 16 months since being traded from the Falcons to the Cardinals in March of 2024. The 2022 third-round pick ultimately spent the 2024 season with the Raiders and served as the third option behind Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. Ridder completed 61 percent of 85 passes while appearing in six games with one start in Las Vegas. In his lone start, he went 23-for-39 passing for 208 yards and one touchdown to two interceptions during a 15-9 loss to Atlanta, which is also the team he started 13 games for in 2023. Ridder will now provide competition for the Bengals' backup quarterback job behind Joe Burrow. Cincinnati's current backup signal-callers include Jake Browning, who started seven games when Burrow was injured in 2023, as well as veteran Logan Woodside and undrafted rookie Payton Thorne.

The Raiders informed Ridder on Friday that the team will not tender the quarterback an offer as a restricted free agent, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The Raiders were heavily involved in talks with Matthew Stafford, but Stafford opted to return to the Rams on a new deal Friday. Las Vegas will need to go on to its next option at the position, but the depth chart will not include Ridder. Signed off the Cardinals' practice squad in October, Ridder appeared in six games (one start) for the Raiders last season. He completed just 61.2 percent of his 85 pass attempts for 458 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ridder will look for a backup opportunity elsewhere.

Ridder completed 52 of 85 pass attempts for 458 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions across six regular-season appearances with the Raiders in 2024.

Ridder only started one of his six appearances with Las Vegas, a Week 15 loss to the Falcons in which both Gardner Minshew (collarbone) and Aidan O'Connell were unavailable due to injury. A 2022 third-round pick, Ridder has now logged a 14:14 TD:INT rate across the last two seasons, with ball security issues also remaining a consistent concern -- he had three fumbles (two lost) in his time with the Raiders. The 25-year-old is slated to become a restricted free agent this offseason, making it easy for Las Vegas to retain him as a reserve option at quarterback, should the team choose to do so.

Ridder completed 23 of 39 pass attempts for 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while rushing five times for 28 yards in Monday's 15-9 loss to the Falcons.

Ridder got a spot-start in place of injured starter Aidan O'Connell (knee) on Monday, squaring off against the team that drafted the backup in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 24-year-old Ridder was inconsistent in his first start for Las Vegas, committing a pair of turnovers before cashing in a late garbage-time touchdown in the loss. O'Connell's injury isn't considered serious, so there is a good chance Ridder returns to the bench for Sunday's tilt against Jacksonville.

With Aidan O'Connell (knee) inactive, Ridder is slated to start Monday night's game against the Falcons, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

O'Connell suffered a bone bruise to his left knee late in the third quarter of the Raiders' 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 14 and was replaced by Ridder, who went on to complete 12 of his 18 passes for 101 yards to close out the contest. With O'Connell, who officially was listed as questionable after missing three straight practices, sidelined Monday, Ridder will draw his first start for the Raiders against the team that took him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In that context, in the last game on the NFL's Week 15 slate, Ridder is an option for managers who would normally utilize O'Connell in their fantasy lineups or who have an opening in super flex formats.

Ridder is expected to start Monday's contest against the Falcons with Aidan O'Connell (knee) seemingly a game-time decision, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Ridder has been Las Vegas' expected starter approaching Week 16 action, but O'Connell (knee), who is officially listed as questionable, will have a chance to log a pre-game workout to determine his availability. Official word on O'Connell's status will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to Monday's 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff, but fantasy managers should brace for the eventually of it being Ridder who commands the Raiders' offense, which will be led by top wideout Jakobi Meyers, rookie phenom Brock Bowers, and backfield riser Sincere McCormick.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Monday that Ridder is expected to start against the Falcons in Week 15, though the team is still waiting for updates on the health of Aidan O'Connell (knee), Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

Ridder appears in line for at least a spot start under center Week 15, and potentially a longer run in the No. 1 role, depending on the severity of O'Connell's injury. The 25-year-old quarterback was solid in relief duty during Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers, entering with just over 14 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, also rushing twice for three yards. He recovered his only fumble.

Ridder entered Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers for Aidan O'Connell (knee) with 14:03 remaining in the fourth quarter and completed 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also rushed twice for three yards and fumbled once but recovered.

Ridder had most recently seen playing time in Week 12 against the Chiefs, so rust wasn't an issue for the third-year pro. Ridder was able to lead the Raiders to three points on his second possession, although he did see a would-be interception reversed on replay during the drive. Considering O'Connell's injured leg was placed in an air cast and the second-year signal-caller was carted off Sunday, Ridder appears to have a good chance of drawing a start against his old Falcons squad in a Week 15 home matchup on Monday night, Dec. 16.

Ridder completed five of 10 passes for 64 yards after replacing replacing Gardner Minshew (collarbone) during Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Broncos. Ridder added three rushing yards on one carry.

Minshew took a sack late in the fourth quarter and suffered a broken collarbone that will cost him the rest of the season, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Ridder took over for the Raiders and was sacked himself two plays later, losing a fumble, but on his one full drive under center he nearly led Las Vegas to a touchdown, only for Tre Tucker to be ruled down short of the goal line inside the final minute. Aidan O'Connell (thumb) will be eligible to return from IR for a Week 13 trip to Kansas City, but if he's not ready Ridder would be in line for his first start of the season. There's also a chance the Raiders could bring in a quarterback like Daniel Jones from outside the organization.

Ridder will remain the Raiders' backup to Gardner Minshew for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Despite being pulled late in the Week 9 loss to the Bengals, coach Antonio Pierce announced Minshew will start against Miami. Ridder came on in relief of Minshew versus Cincinnati and fared well against the Bengals' prevent defense, completing 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards and one touchdown. The Raiders aren't ready to give up on their season and will once again give Minshew the nod. However, he remains a weekly candidate to be benched during the game, and therefore is not a recommended fantasy option in any format.

Ridder took over for an ineffective Gardner Minshew with 5:02 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday's 41-24 loss to the Bengals and completed 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while rushing once for two yards and losing a fumble.

A rusty Ridder, who'd last put up a regular-season attempt in Week 18 of the 2023 campaign with the Falcons, mostly stuck to short passes and took four sacks overall. However, Ridder also managed to lead a six-play, 70-yard touchdown march late in the fourth quarter that he capped with a 22-yard touchdown strike to Brock Bowers. Considering the Raiders are now 2-7 and have a Week 10 bye on tap, head coach Antonio Pierce may opt to give Ridder a chance with the starting job during a Week 11 road trip to Miami.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Friday that Ridder will work as the backup to Gardner Minshew during Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Heidi Fang of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Ridder was inked by Las Vegas off Arizona's practice squad Monday, so it's unlikely that he's fully acclimated to his new team's playbook quite yet. With Aidan O'Connell (thumb) on IR and out at least four games, Ridder looks primed to hold onto the backup role behind Minshew for at least the next month. In the event that Minshew's struggles under center continue, Ridder may even have an opportunity to compete for more significant reps at quarterback.

Ridder was signed by the Raiders off of Arizona's practice squad Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ridder has yet to appear in a game this season while spending the entirety of the year to this point with the Cardinals' practice unit. The quarterback will now be on the Raiders' active roster for at least three games, presumably serving as the top backup option behind Gardner Minshew while Aidan O'Connell (thumb) is unavailable. Ridder appeared in 15 games with the Falcons in 2023, producing 2,836 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while also adding 193 yards and five scores on the ground.

The Cardinals signed Ridder to their practice squad Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The 2022 third-round pick out of Cincinnati failed to make the Cardinals' initial 53-man roster, but he's now been brought back to the team's practice squad. Ridder threw for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and just as many interceptions across his 15 regular-season contests with the Falcons last year. He's now expected to serve as Arizona's No. 3 quarterback option in 2024.

The Cardinals are slated to waive Ridder on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports..

Ridder, who Arizona acquired in via a trade with the Falcons back in March, ultimately couldn't beat out Clayton Tune for the top backup spot behind Kyler Murray during training camp. The 2022 second-round pick boasts ample NFL experience, though in that time he demonstrated a lack of a true ceiling, so the Cardinals could still target him for a practice squad spot if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Ridder cleared the league's concussion protocols Monday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Ridder suffered a concussion during Sunday's preseason loss to the Broncos, so his time in protocols was short-lived. The Cincinnati product is slated to be the Cardinals' backup quarterback this season, and with his quick return to full health should hold that position Week 1 behind Kyler Murray.

Ridder is in concussion protocol following Sunday's 38-12 preseason loss to the Cardinals, per head coach Jonathan Gannon, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Ridder went to the locker room in the second half to be evaluated for a concussion, and the testing revealed a concussion. Prior to exiting the game, Ridder completed 10 of 16 passes for 111 yards and rushed twice for 25 yards. If Ridder is unable to pass the NFL's five-step concussion protocol prior to the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Bills, Clayton Tune would back up Kyler Murray.

Ridder looks set to start Saturday's exhibition opener against the Saints, and potentially Arizona's following two preseason contests, after coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday that Kyler Murray will not play until Week 1, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Ridder, who was dealt to the Cardinals back in March, appears primed for a busy preseason along with No. 3 quarterback Clayton Tune. After appearing in 19 regular-season games for the Falcons over the last two years, Ridder brings substantial NFL experience to the table as Murray's top backup, he won't see much of the field this season if all goes well for Arizona.

The Falcons are trading Ridder to Arizona in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ridder gets a chance to start fresh after Atlanta opted to ink Kirk Cousins (Achilles) to a massive four-year contract, and he becomes the favorite to back up Kyler Murray for the Cardinals. The team also has 2023 fifth-round pick Clayton Tune available, and further competition could be added this offseason, but Ridder boasts enough experience to step up in emergency circumstances. Across 15 appearances last season he completed 249 of 388 passes for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The Falcons are expected to trade Ridder following the signing of Kirk Cousins to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Atlanta reportedly doesn't have an immediate deal in place, but Ridder should draw some interest from teams in the league willing to part with later draft picks. The 2022 third-round pick boasts a unique amount of starting experience, as he's now heading into just his age-25 season, potentially making him an upgrade as a No. 2 option for some quarterback rooms in the NFL. If Ridder is indeed traded, it could throw a wrench in the assumption that Atlanta will release Taylor Heinicke in a cap-savings move.

Ridder figures to be relegated to a backup role with the Falcons set to sign Kirk Cousins, per the team's official website.

The 2022 third-round pick has won eight of his 17 NFL starts while throwing 14 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He's completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 7.0 YPA, but with a higher-than-average sack rate (7.4 percent) and nine lost fumbles. Overall, Ridder has the same number of turnovers (19) as combined passing and rushing TDs in the NFL. The Falcons likely will release Taylor Heinicke after their agreement with Cousins becomes official.

Ridder completed 22 of 30 passes for 291 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and netted no gain on two carries in the Falcons' 48-17 loss to the Saints on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

The two turnovers were naturally a blemish, but Ridder otherwise put together some encouraging numbers that included an elevated 9.7 yards per attempt, his second-highest figure of the season. Ridder connected with Jonnu Smith and and Bijan Robinson for touchdown tosses of 15 and 71 yards, respectively, for only his second multi-touchdown performance of his second season, and Sunday's production pushed the sophomore signal-caller's final numbers to 2,836 passing yards and a 12:12 TD:INT over 15 games. Both Ridder and the Falcons as a whole head into the offseason with plenty of uncertainty, and it seems likely that the young signal-caller will either find himself in a new locale or playing for a new coaching staff with Atlanta in 2024.

Ridder will serve as Atlanta's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Saints, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Ridder had been benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke twice this season, but the 2022 third-round pick will get another crack as a starter in Week 18 with the latter signal-caller nursing an ankle injury. Ridder has appeared in 14 games this season, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,545 yards, 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He's also fumbled 11 times, losing six of them. Logan Woodside will be Ridder's primary backup, while Heinicke is officially listed as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.

Ridder will be replaced by Taylor Heinicke as Atlanta's starting quarterback Sunday versus the Colts, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Ridder is being benched for the second time this season, a move which Kendall reports could signal the end of his starting tenure for the Falcons. The switch comes following an unimpressive performance by Ridder in poor weather conditions, when he completed 12 of 20 passes for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Atlanta's narrow 9-7 loss to the Panthers in Week 15. Perhaps more crucially, Ridder set up Carolina's final game-winning drive with a crucial red zone interception, a mistake that cascaded into the Falcons' playoff hopes being effectively crushed by the loss. The second-year signal-caller will presumably operate as Heinicke's backup Sunday versus Indianapolis.

Ridder completed 12 of 20 passes for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception and netted minus-2 yards on five rush attempts in the Falcons' 9-7 loss to the Panthers on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Atlanta.

A week after throwing for a career-high 347 yards against the Buccaneers, Ridder's production took a steep drop on a rainy afternoon in Carolina. The second-year signal-caller finished well under the 200-yard mark for the third time in four games since returning to the starting job, and the only highlight of his day was a two-yard touchdown pass to Cordarrelle Patterson in the latter portion of the second quarter. Ridder's hold on the starting job could be somewhat shaky once again following Sunday's performance, and he'll face an aggressive Colts defense in a Week 16 home matchup.

Ridder completed 26 of 40 passes for 347 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Falcons' 29-25 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also rushed four times for 15 yards and another score, committed two fumbles and lost one, and threw a two-point conversion pass.

Ridder had about as eventful a day as his final line implies, compiling a career-high yardage tally while also accounting for multiple touchdowns for the fourth time this season. Ridder and Drake London were the more lethal quarterback-receiver duo on the field by far Sunday, with the second-year wideout accounting for 10 of Ridder's completions and 172 of his yards. Ridder also connected with London for his late two-point conversion pass, and he came about four yards short of successfully orchestrating a game-winning Hail Mary with London as time expired. Ridder had failed to eclipsed 168 passing yards in either of his first two starts since his demotion, but Sunday's breakout affords him plenty of momentum going into a Week 15 road battle against the Panthers.

Ridder completed 12 of 27 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 13-8 win over the Jets. He also had zero yards on three rushing attempts.

Ridder was held to fewer than 200 passing yards for the sixth time in 11 appearances this season, but his modest passing yardage total included a 20-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt in the second quarter. He also had an interception wiped out by a penalty in the second quarter, and despite the officials calling seven penalties on the Jets in the final four minutes of the first half to move the Falcons into scoring range, Atlanta had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 10-5 lead into the locker room. Ridder helped the team tack on a field goal in the second half, after which the Falcons were content to rely on their defense and running game to seal the win and improve to 6-6 heading into a Week 14 home game against the Buccaneers.

Ridder completed 13 of 21 passes for 168 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and added 30 rushing yards on seven carries in the Falcons' 24-15 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Ridder's return to the starting job was far from crisp, with the second-year signal-caller posting his third multi-interception tally of the campaign. However, Ridder was able to leverage his ground game, defense and a depleted Saints offense to help lead the Falcons to a much-needed win while failing to reach the 200-yard mark for the third time in a full game this season. Ridder showed very good rapport with top target Drake London and threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Bijan Robinson, but otherwise, the remaining Atlanta players that caught a pass combined for just five receptions and 45 yards. Ridder will aim to contribute much more through the air in a tough matchup against a stingy Jets secondary in a Week 13 road clash.

Head coach Arthur Smith confirmed Monday that Ridder will reclaim starting quarterback duties Sunday against the Saints, and the Falcons plan to stick with the second-year signal-caller as their starter for the rest of the season, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Smith's announcement doesn't come as a major surprise, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported over the weekend that Ridder was set to move back into the starting role after he had been benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) for the two games leading up to Atlanta's Week 11 bye. Though Heinicke isn't expected to practice this week while he continues to recover from a hamstring strain he sustained Week 10, he lost both of his games as starter and completed just 54.7 percent of his throws for 6.1 yards per attempt in those outings. As such, Heinicke's injury doesn't appear to be the only reason that the Falcons are turning the starting job back over to Ridder, who has fared better from an efficiency standpoint than Heinicke over nine appearances (65.4 percent completion rate, 7.1 YPA) and presents a slight upgrade as a rushing threat (150 yards, four touchdowns on 32 carries). Turnovers (six interceptions, six lost fumbles) have been the main bugaboo for Ridder, but Smith is hopeful that the time on th

The Falcons are expected to go forward with Ridder as the starter beginning Week 12 versus the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Atlanta is making another QB change during their bye, with Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) set to return to a backup role after throwing three touchdowns and one interception across three games under center, while averaging a disappointing 166 passing yards. Of course, Ridder hasn't been much more prolific, with six passing touchdowns and six interceptions across 10 games, and an average of just 193.3 passing yards. Ridder has, however, added 150 rushing yards and four touchdowns, though that production has been balanced out by his seven fumbles (six lost).

Ridder completed four of six passes for 39 yards and gained 11 rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries after replacing Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 25-23 loss to the Cardinals.

The second-year quarterback gave the Falcons a spark, and Ridder's nine-yard TD run with under three minutes left gave his team a 23-22 lead that the defense couldn't make hold up. Atlanta gets its bye next week, giving Heinicke time to heal up, but if he's not ready to return in Week 12, Ridder could find himself back in the starting role Nov. 26 against the Saints.

Head coach Arthur Smith announced earlier in the week that Ridder will remain in a backup role Sunday against the Cardinals while Taylor Heinicke gets a second straight turn as the Falcons' starting quarterback, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. "We will go with Taylor this week," Smith said. "And reassess going into the [Week 11] bye."

Heinicke replaced Ridder in the second half of the team's Week 8 loss to the Titans and has completed 33 of 59 attempts (55.9 percent) for 443 yards (7.5 YPA), two touchdowns and one interception while adding 34 yards on five carries through his first six quarters as the Falcons' quarterback. Though Ridder has fared comparably to Heinicke from an efficiency standpoint through his eight starts (65.4 percent completion rate, 7.1 YPA) and presents more of a rushing threat, the second-year signal-caller's issues with turnovers (six interceptions, six lost fumbles) have undone most of his good work. According to Rothstein, Smith went on to say Wednesday that he's averse to playing "musical chairs" with his two quarterbacks, so expect the Falcons to put an end to their week-to-week approach to the starting role and settle on a permanent option coming out of their bye. How Heinicke performs against the Cardinals will likely be a major factor in the Falcons' decision.

Head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that Ridder has been medically cleared but will serve as the top backup to Taylor Heinicke in Sunday's game versus the Vikings, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Smith noted that the decision to start Heinicke over Ridder for Week 9 was made with the short-term in mind. Ridder was forced out of last week's loss to the Titans in the first half and evaluated for a concussion, and even after he was medically cleared to return, the Falcons stuck with Heinicke at quarterback to finish out the contest. Smith is seemingly still taking a cautious approach to Ridder's health, though the Falcons will allow him to suit up Sunday in a backup capacity. Even if the starting decision was made solely with Sunday's game against Minnesota in mind, if Heinicke is able to show well, he could end up sticking as the team's No. 1 signal-caller going forward. Through eight games, Ridder has turned the ball over 12 times (six interceptions, six lost fumbles) and compiled just nine touchdowns (six passing, three rushing).

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was non-committal Monday when asked whether Ridder would start Atlanta's Week 9 game against the Vikings, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reports. "We have to see where he's at. That's the best answer I can give you," Smith said about Ridder. "Have to see where he's at...We have to find a way to win this game."

Smith's comments seemingly refer to Ridder's health, even though the quarterback passed all concussion tests when he was checked during halftime of Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Titans. Ridder played the entire first half of the game, leading Atlanta to just three points over seven drives while completing eight of 12 pass attempts for 71 yards to go with 26 yards on the ground and a lost fumble. Though Ridder was cleared to return for the second half, Taylor Heinicke stepped in at quarterback and performed far more effectively, producing points on four of his six drives. Given that Ridder has turned the ball over 12 times (six interceptions, six lost fumbles) through eight games and the Falcons are now sitting at 4-4 on the season, Smith appears to be seriously considering the prospect of moving the second-year signal-caller to the bench. Expect Smith to shed more light on the Falcons' plans at quarterback for Week 9 when the team resumes practicing Wednesday.

Ridder completed eight of 12 passes for 71 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Titans. He added three rushes for 26 yards.

Ridder didn't appear in the second half of the loss, though after the game, coach Arthur Smith disclosed that his quarterback had been checked for a concussion. Despite being cleared to return, Smith, opted to play it safe, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. That means Ridder is likely to return to his starting role in Week 9 against the Vikings. As for his performance, Ridder was inefficient even in a positive matchup and also lost his sixth fumble in his last six contests.

Ridder completed 19 of 25 passes for 250 yards, without a touchdown or interception in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Buccaneers. He added six carries for 38 yards and a touchdown while fumbling three times, losing all three.

Ridder got off to a hot start, completing all four of his passes for 46 yards on the opening drive before capping it with a two-yard rushing touchdown. That success didn't last, as Ridder failed to lead another touchdown drive and lost three fumbles in the red zone, including two at the one-yard line. After Tampa Bay tied the score at 13 apiece with 45 seconds remaining, Ridder connected with Kyle Pitts for a 39-yard gain to set up Younghoe Koo's game-winning, 51-yard field goal, which handed Ridder the first road win of his NFL career. Ridder will look to double that win total in a Week 8 road tilt in Tennessee.

Ridder completed 28 of 47 passes for 307 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions during Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Commanders. He also rushed twice for 18 yards.

Ridder threw for over 300 yards for a second straight game, but his overall performance was marred by a trio of turnovers. He started out hot, completing a couple of big passes on Atlanta's opening drive culminating in a nine-yard touchdown to Kyle Pitts, but Ridder hit a wall after that. After falling behind by double figures early in the second half, the Falcons clawed their way back, and Ridder made it a one-score game with a short touchdown connection to Jonnu Smith early in the final frame. However, Atlanta couldn't complete the comeback as Ridder threw two four-quarter interceptions. The turnovers are certainly concerning, but fantasy managers shouldn't overlook the fact that Ridder has thrown the ball 185 times over the past five weeks. This type of usage can certainly be conducive to fantasy production, but Ridder has been too inconsistent to trust on a regular basis.

Ridder completed 28 of 37 passes for 329 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and added four carries for 10 yards and another score in the Falcons' 21-19 win over the Texans.

Ridder amassed a career-best yardage total and recorded his first 300-yard game in the process during the comeback win. The second-year pro had an integral role in the victory, completing five passes during the game-winning drive after the Texans' C.J. Stroud had driven Houston for a touchdown with under two minutes remaining. Part of the key to Ridder's productive day was his chemistry with gifted but little-used tight end Kyle Pitts, who he hit on a team-high seven occasions for 87 yards. Ridder also clicked frequently with top wideout Drake London (6-78) as the Texans forced the Falcons into more of a pass-centric attack than usual. Ridder's fantasy outlook remains somewhat modest due to head coach Arthur Smith's preference for a run-heavy offense, but he'll face a favorable matchup in a Week 6 visit from the Commanders.

Head coach Arthur Smith said Monday that Ridder is still Atlanta's starting quarterback, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Ridder has made just eight starts as a professional, but Sunday's 23-7 loss was by far his worst performance. He committed a career-high three turnovers, including a pick-six late in the second quarter that put Atlanta in a hole it couldn't climb out of. Smith has been adamant about playing smart football, which Ridder didn't do versus Jacksonville, but it appears the 2022 third-round pick will get an opportunity to work through his mistakes. However, Taylor Heinicke is the highest-paid backup quarterback in the NFL, so if Ridder continues to struggle, don't be surprised if Smith gives the veteran a chance at some point.

Ridder completed 19 of 31 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and one lost fumble in Sunday's 23-7 loss to the Jaguars.

He also added six rushing yards on one carry. Ridder put on another lackluster performance, punctuated by a 61-yard pick-six thrown to Jacksonville's Darious Williams late in the second quarter, but the second-year quarterback did mange to hit Drake London for a 15-yard score on Atlanta's first possession of the second half. Ridder also got sacked four times, the third time in four games he's been brought down at least that many times. Ridder and the Falcons' offense will try to turn things around in Week 5 at home against the Texans.

Ridder completed 21 of 38 passes for 201 yards during Sunday's 20-6 loss versus Detroit. He also rushed twice for three yards.

Ridder attempted a career-high 38 passes, and it was actually the most pass attempts by a Falcons quarterback since Arthur Smith took over. However, Ridder failed to produce much with the increased chances. He also saw a major regression in his running production, which is concerning. It seemed Atlanta made a concerted effort to call designed run plays for Ridder in Week 2, but that wasn't part of the plan in Week 3. Ridder doesn't need to be rostered in most standard leagues, but there have been some encouraging moments through three weeks.

Ridder completed 19 of 32 passes for 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception during Sunday's 25-24 win over the Packers. He also rushed 10 times for 39 yards and an additional score.

Ridder wasn't sharp early. He threw an interception on his second pass of the game and had two more throws go through the hands of defenders. However, the quarterback also had a touchdown called back after review, so the what-ifs could go both ways. In the end, Ridder did what he needed to do to help Atlanta pull off the victory. Fantasy managers should be enthused with Ridder's production on the ground, but it's also encouraging that he threw the ball 32 times after just 18 pass attempts in Week 1. The Falcons' offense was still run-heavy (45 rushes to 32 passes), but Ridder can certainly be fantasy relevant with the role he garnered versus Green Bay.

Ridder completed 15 of 18 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 24-10 win over the Panthers.

Ridder was efficient during his first action of 2023, but he wasn't asked to do much. Regardless, the 2022 third-round pick posted a 111.8 quarterback rating as the Falcons cruised to victory against a division rival. With a stout running game and plenty of talented playmakers around him, Ridder needs to continue to be efficient while limiting turnovers. If he does that, Atlanta has a great chance to pull out victories on a weekly basis. While that's good for the Falcons, it doesn't bode well for Ridder's fantasy profile moving forward.

Ridder is not expected to play in the Falcons' preseason finale against the Steelers Thursday night, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

The Falcons are not expected to play any of their starters in the final exhibition ahead of Week 1, and instead Logan Woodside is likely to see plenty of reps against Pittsburgh in an effort to convince the coaching staff to keep him around as the QB3 behind Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. In total this preseason, Ridder played 17 offensive snaps, completing seven of nine pass attempts for 80 scoreless yards and a red-zone interception.

Ridder completed seven of nine passes for 80 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Friday's 13-13 tie against the Bengals in preseason action. He also rushed the ball once for seven yards.

Ridder saw his first preseason action of the 2023 season and played one drive. He had some strong moments, highlighted by a 21-yard completion to Drake London down the left sideline, and he also showed accuracy in the short to middle areas of the field. On the other hand, the drive concluded in shaky fashion, as Ridder appeared to mistime a throw to Scotty Miller near the goal line -- resulting in a tipped pass and interception. Ridder will be under center for Atlanta's Week 1 matchup against Carolina, and it's possible he won't take the field again until the regular season kicks off.

Coach Arthur Smith said after Friday's 19-3 win at Miami that Ridder and the rest of the Falcons' starters will play in next Friday's preseason game against the Bengals, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Ridder was held out of Atlanta's exhibition opener, but he'll get his first chance to hand off to first-round rookie running back Bijan Robinson in preseason Week 2. It's unclear how many series Ridder can expect to get under center, but it also may serve as the team's dress rehearsal ahead of Week 1.

Ridder isn't expected to play in Friday night's preseason opener against the Dolphins, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, as Ridder is an inexperienced quarterback with just four games under his belt. However, the Falcons are apparently confident with the reps he's gotten in practice. If Ridder isn't playing, we shouldn't expect to see much, if anything, from Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Drake London.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank told reporters Tuesday "we feel pretty strongly" that Ridder is "going to be our quarterback of the future," Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Coach Arthur Smith named Ridder as the team's starting QB in late March, two weeks after the team signed Taylor Heinicke to a two-year, $14 million contract. it sounds like the second-year pro is making a good impression in training camp, but there's still a lot that can go wrong with a third-round pick (2022) who has one of the better backups in the league behind him. Even if his standing atop the depth chart is truly secure this summer, Ridder won't be long for the starting job come September/October if he doesn't play well. He does have a bunch of things working in his favor, including ample collegiate experience as a starter, an Atlanta offensive line that improved greatly last year and a supporting cast of skill-position players that includes top-10 picks from each of the last three NFL Drafts (TE Kyle Pitts, WR Drake London, RB Bijan Robinson). It doesn't hurt to have the support of the team owner, though Blank is 80 years old and seemingly not quite as involved with the team's day-to-day operations as

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith named Ridder the team's starting quarterback to begin the 2023 campaign, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

After the acquisition of Taylor Heinicke, Rothstein reported that Ridder was still expected to be Atlanta's starter, but Smith confirmed that notion Tuesday. Smith's comments also suggest that the Falcons aren't targeting a quarterback with their No. 8 overall pick in the upcoming draft. Ridder took over for Marcus Mariota and started the final four games of the 2022 campaign, recording a 63.5 percent completion percentage, 708 passing yards and two passing touchdowns while totaling 16 rushing attempts for 64 yards. After losing his first two starts, Atlanta won back-to-back games to end the season, bringing optimism for the future, but Ridder did lose a fumble in each of those wins, marking the first turnovers of his career.

Despite the Falcons' reported signing of Taylor Heinicke, Ridder is still expected to enter training camp as Atlanta's starting quarterback, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.

It's become evident that Atlanta wants to see what it has in Ridder, the No. 74 overall pick in last year's NFL Draft. Ridder made four rookie-year starts to close out last season but wasn't totally impressive, completing 63.5 percent of his throws for 177 yards per game and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Heinicke will definitely give Ridder a run at the job in camp, but Heinicke has also probably maxed out as an upper-echelon backup rather than a 17-game starter in the NFL.

Ridder completed 19 of 30 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 30-17 win over Tampa Bay.

Ridder wasn't overly prolific or efficient, but he avoided turnovers and made plays when he needed to. He had a strong connection with Drake London, who finished with a career-high 120 receiving yards, but Ridder's touchdown passes went to Olamide Zaccheaus and MyCole Pruitt. It was Atlanta's second win with Ridder under center, and the two-game win streak to end the campaign is certainly an encouraging finish to build off of going into the offseason. However, the Falcons are likely still going to be in the market for a quarterback this offseason, leaving Ridder's future unclear.

Ridder completed 19 of 26 passes for 169 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 20-19 win over the Cardinals. He added four rushes for nine yards.

Ridder has still yet to throw a touchdown through three career starts, though he's reached 6.5 yards per attempt in each of his last two games. He did very little early in Sunday's win, though he led a game-winning drive in the final moments of the fourth quarter during which he went 3-for-3 for 31 yards to help get the team in field-goal range. Though the Falcons have remained a run-focused offense, Ridder has shown a baseline ability to run the offense in the first few starts of his career.

Ridder completed 22 of 33 passes for 218 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions in Saturday's 17-9 loss to Baltimore.

He added eight rushing yards on four carries. The young QB was much more efficient than he was last week in his NFL debut and showed great chemistry with fellow rookie Drake London, who accounted for 96 of his 218 passing yards, but Ridder still failed to produce a TD, just as he did against the Saints. The 2022 third-round pick will have two more chances to complete his first career touchdown pass before the end of the season -- next week against the Cardinals and in Week 18 against the Buccaneers, both home games for the Falcons.

Ridder completed 13 of 26 passes for 97 yards and rushed six times for 38 yards during Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Saints.

Ridder completed just half of his pass attempts and had an interception overturned to start the second half, resulting in an extremely disappointing debut through the air. However, the rookie third-round pick attempted to salvage his offensive production by showcasing his dual-threat ability. Overall, there wasn't much to take away from Ridder's performance, but the lone bright spot was the connection he appeared to have with fellow rookie Drake London, as the duo connected seven times (11 targets) for 70 yards. With Marcus Mariota (knee) out for the remainder of the regular season, Ridder should continue drawing starts, regardless of his performance.

Head coach Arthur Smith confirmed Monday that Ridder will take over as Atlanta's starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game in New Orleans, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported during the Falcons' Week 14 bye that Ridder was in line to make his NFL debut Week 15, but it wasn't until Smith spoke to the media Monday before the team confirmed as much. Ridder will be displacing Marcus Mariota, who started the team's first 13 games before being placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a knee injury that will require surgery, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The Falcons signed Logan Woodside off the Titans' practice squad over the weekend to add depth at quarterback, but he's not expected to seriously challenge Ridder for the starting job over the final four weeks of the season, barring an injury to the rookie. Ridder didn't play at any point before the bye week, but he showcased a dual-threat skill set in the preseason, completing 34 of 56 pass attempts for 431 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while carrying eight times for 58 yards across three appearances.

The Falcons plan to install Ridder as their new starting quarterback after their Week 14 bye, with the rookie set to make his NFL debut in the team's Dec. 18 game in New Orleans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The shakeup at quarterback comes after the Falcons dropped four of their last five games heading into the bye week, with incumbent starter Marcus Mariota having completed 59 percent of his throws for 6.5 yards per attempt and a 5:3 TD:INT over that stretch. Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati, possesses a dual-threat skill set like Mariota, and Atlanta is hoping that his insertion as the new starter can help jumpstart an offense that ranks in the bottom five in the NFL in points per game. Ridder hasn't seen any action in relief of Mariota this season, but he showed promise in the preseason. In three exhibition contests, he completed 34 of 56 attempts (60.7 percent) for 431 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while carrying eight times for 58 yards.

Ridder isn't expected to receive an opportunity to displace incumbent Marcus Mariota as the Falcons' starting quarterback so long as Atlanta remains in playoff contention, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After the Atlanta offense floundered in consecutive losses to the Chargers and Panthers, Mariota's job status has come into question. Even though Mariota has completed just 61.9 percent of his attempts and has cleared 200 passing yards on only three occasions this season, he's amassed 347 yards on the ground and has accounted for 15 touchdowns to help keep the Falcons reasonably competitive. Even though Atlanta enters Sunday's matchup with the Bears sitting on a 4-6 record, the Falcons are just one game out of first place in the NFC South, so head coach Arthur Smith will continue to stick with the veteran quarterback for the time being rather than getting an early evaluation on Ridder, a rookie third-round pick out of Cincinnati. Like Mariota, Ridder, who has yet to make his NFL regular-season debut, offers some upside as a runner that would presumably allow Atlanta to run a similar offense if Smith opts for a change at quarterback later this season. Ridder acquitted himself reasonably well in three preseason

Ridder completed 14 of 21 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Saturday's 28-12 preseason win over the Jaguars. He also rushed twice for minus-1 yard while playing into the fourth quarter of Atlanta's preseason finale.

This performance showed why the Falcons plan to open the regular season with Marcus Mariota under center and are likely planning to keep starting him for most or all of the season. Ridder's a good athlete, but the rookie third-round pick still needs to work on his decision-making as a passer. His first pass of the game was picked off, and while Ridder bounced back with a two-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Tyler Allgeier on the next possession, he was intercepted again in the final seconds of the first half.

Ridder completed 10 of 13 passes for 143 yards in Monday's preseason loss to the Jets.

Ridder entered the game for the Falcons' fourth offensive possession and led the team on two effective drives prior to halftime. Though Atlanta had to settle for field goals on both occasions -- primarily the product of penalties -- Ridder showed the ability to push the ball deep by connecting for long gains of 34, 20, 18 and 17 yards to an assortment of backup skill position players. Despite the strong performance, Ridder figures to open the regular season as the backup to Marcus Mariota.

Ridder completed 10 of 22 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 27-23 preseason win over the Lions. He also rushed six times for 59 yards.

Ridder's night was highlighted by a 21-yard touchdown to Jared Bernhardt to give Atlanta the lead with 1:30 left. The rookie third-rounder threw a one-yard score earlier in the game, and like starter Marcus Mariota, Ridder showed off his wheels as a runner as well. In playing only the opening series, Mariota completed both his attempts for 36 yards and rushed three times for 23 yards and a touchdown. While Mariota could play more in the Falcons' next preseason game versus the Jets, Ridder's game-winning effort will make his progress interesting to track too.

The Falcons selected Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 74th overall.

Ridder fell much further than expected, and while there was a reason for that descent, this still looks like an excellent pick for the Falcons. Ridder lacks a strong arm and isn't the most natural passer, but his leadership character and work ethic are exceptional and he should present as a rushing threat in the NFL thanks to his 4.52 speed. Ridder (6-foot-3, 211 pounds) was a program-defining player at Cincinnati, where he was a highly successful four-year starter, and he'll likely get a shot to start in Atlanta even with Marcus Mariota the favorite for the top job in the short term.