Falcons head coach Arthur Smith declines to name starting QB

The Atlanta Falcons have the week off but there’s plenty of work to be done over the bye. Since it doesn’t appear the team is ready to make a coaching change, the next logical step would be to name a starting quarterback.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was asked about the QB situation during his Monday press conference but said it was “a little premature” to name a starter, per team reporter Terrin Waack.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said naming a starting quarterback right now would be “a little premature.” Taylor Heinicke’s hamstring injury is considered “low grade.” Smith will use the bye to evaluate the position moving forward.

— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) November 13, 2023

Smith said that Taylor Heinicke’s hamstring injury is “low grade” and that the team will use the bye week to evaluate the quarterback position moving forward. Heinicke exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss and was replaced by Desmond Ridder for the remainder of the game.

Ridder’s fourth-quarter touchdown run gave the Falcons the lead in the final minutes, but Atlanta’s defense couldn’t hold up against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals on Sunday.

Despite suffering a third straight loss in Week 10, Smith believes the team can turn things around over the final seven games.

“There is true evidence that we can right this thing,” Smith said, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic.

Arthur Smith has not made a final decision about who will start at quarterback when the Falcons come off their bye in two weeks.

“There is true evidence that we can right this thing.”

— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) November 13, 2023

Smith did not give a specific timeline for when he would name the starter. The Falcons’ next game is a road matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.