Atlanta Falcons to start Desmond Ridder over Marcus Mariota after bye week, per report

The Atlanta Falcons will reportedly turn to rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder and bench veteran Marcus Mariota, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Mariota, the former No. 2 overall pick out of Oregon by the Tennessee Titans, led the Falcons to a 5-8 record through 13 games. According to Rapoport, head coach Arthur Smith will make the move after the bye week and Ridder will go under center Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.

“We will have some very intense meetings in the next couple of days,” Smith said of possible position changes, via the team’s website. “Obviously, I know where we’re at. We understand, too, that we’ve been in some close games lately and we need to get back over the hump. There will be changes made. Everything that we decide to do I will be as transparent as possible.”

Mariota put up pedestrian stats in the 19-16 loss to the Steelers Sunday. He finished 13-of-24 passing for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“You don’t want to look like you’re just blaming one person, and if you think it’s the best thing for you at that moment then, yeah, you’re going to do (make a move) because that’s what you’re paid to do,” Smith said Monday. “Circumstances are very different today than they were a couple weeks ago for different reasons.”

This season, Mariota had 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 61.3% completion percentage. Over the course of his career with the Titans, Raiders and Falcons, the former Oregon product has 15,656 yards, 92 touchdowns, 54 interceptions and a 62.6% completion percentage.

The former Heisman winner for the Ducks had a historic college career before turning pro. Mariota finished his time with Oregon (three seasons) with 10,796 yards, 105 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, a 66.8% completion percentage, 2,237 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.

The Falcons selected Ridder in the third round (No. 74 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.

Ridder had a high level college career at Cincinnati, including a career year in 2021 as a senior, leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff. He finished his four seasons with 10,239 yards, 87 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, a 62.1% completion percentage, 2,180 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2017, Ridder was a three-star prospect out of Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier, per the On3 Consensus. He was the No. 8 overall prospect in the state, the No. 76 quarterback prospect in the class and the No. 1,321 overall prospect in the class.