Falcons head coach Arthur Smith names Desmond Ridder starting QB

The Atlanta Falcons are officially rolling with Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback in Week 12, head coach Arthur Smith told reporters on Monday afternoon.

According to Smith, the team used the bye week to evaluate the quarterback situation and landed on Ridder. Watch Smith’s explanation below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.

Coach Smith provides an update on the QB position coming out of the bye pic.twitter.com/BpQHO7Xycw

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 20, 2023

Ridder has started eight games this season, passing for 1,740 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions while going 4-4. Heinicke has passed for 498 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while going 0-2.

Ridder replaced an injured Heinicke in the fourth quarter of last weekend’s game against Arizona, completing four or six passes for 39 yards and rushing for the go-ahead score.