Atlanta Falcons Bench Desmond Ridder For Remainder of 2023 Season

Ridder's days as a starting NFL quarterback are over for now.

CINCINNATI — UC football legend Desmond Ridder is getting benched as the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback for the rest of the season.

Head coach Arthur Smith confirmed the move on Wednesday, saying that Taylor Heinecke gives the team its best chance to win down the stretch. Atlanta is 6-8 this season after losing 9-7 to the lowly Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Ridder hasn't even played a full allotment of snaps this season after getting benched earlier in the season. Still, his 16 turnovers in 2023 mark the second-highest total in the NFL. 

Ridder's 38.3 QBR ranks 24th in the league.

#Falcons HC Arthur Smith said they are planning to have Taylor Heinicke start the rest of the season.

"Taylor gives us our best chance." https://t.co/xIq0CWAuPm

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 20, 2023

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