Desmond Ridder moves up slightly in NFL.com’s QB index

The Falcons are off to a 2-0 start this season, largely due to the team’s rushing attack. Rookie Bijan Robinson has been effective as both a runner and receiver, helping Atlanta overcome a 12-point deficit in Week 2.

Some of the team’s other big names on offense haven’t had as much success thus far. Wide receiver Drake London has 67 total receiving yards and tight end Kyle Pitts has only 59 yards after two games.

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder got off to a slow start before coming on strong in the fourth quarter of Week 2. Ridder climbed up four spots to No. 26 in NFL.com’s 2023 QB index following Sunday’s win.

I’ve been in the wait-and-see crowd on Ridder to this point. Let the record show he made a positive statement to my faction in Week 2. It wasn’t a resounding message — there were, after all, the typical ups and downs that come with watching an inexperienced passer — but I was highly impressed by how Ridder delivered with his back against the wall. – Nick Shook, NFL.com

Maybe it’s just early-season jitters, but we have yet to see the Falcons offense hum through the first two games. As we saw in Ridder’s Week 2 passing chart, the second-year QB continues to rely on short passes.

With the team’s back against the wall, Ridder came through with some big plays. His overall performance still had some holes in it, but he more than doubled his Week 1 passing yardage. However, the Falcons offense still has a long way to go before opposing defenses begin to fear the passing attack.

Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield (18th), New Orleans’ Derek Carr (22nd), and Carolina’s Bryce Young (31st) rounded out the rest of the NFC South.

Falcons Wire links:

• Twitter loses mind over Bijan
• Falcons Week 3 depth chart
• Falcons Week 3 injury report
• Falcons Week 2 PFF grades
• 7 takeaways from Week 2 win