It’s been quite an interesting last few weeks for the Atlanta Falcons and their head coach, Arthur Smith, as the team is just about at the midway point of the 2023 schedule.
Through eight games, the Falcons have a 4-4 record, and they’re tied with the New Orleans Saints for first place in the NFC South.
Atlanta has a critical decision to make before their upcoming Week 9 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, though.
Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is currently in the team’s concussion protocol, and on Monday, Smith talked about the young signal-caller’s chance to play next Sunday against the Vikings (via NFL Media’s James Palmer on Twitter).
“I gotta see where he’s at. That’s the best I can give you. I got to see where he’s at. Got to see if that’s the best thing for this team this week. Obviously, it’s not something I’m concerned long-term, he’s done a lot of good things. But we gotta go find a way to go win this game. If it’s Taylor [Heinicke], that’s what we’ll do. My concern is [Ridder].”
Arthur Smith was asked today if Desmond Ridder is healthy does he start this week?
“I gotta see where he’s at. That’s the best I can give you. I got to see where he’s at. Got to see if that’s the best thing for this team this week. Obviously, it’s not something I’m concerned…— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 30, 2023
Atlanta is coming off a disappointing loss on Sunday in which they lost to an underwhelming Tennessee Titans team by a final score of 28-23.
The Falcons began the 2023 season by winning three of their first five games, and since then, they’ve wound up with losses in two of their last three matchups.
If Ridder is unable to play next Sunday, backup Taylor Heinicke will start in his place for Atlanta.
Heinicke has been in the NFL for multiple years, and he’s proven a number of different times to be a great option as a guy who can fill in as a starter on short notice.
Something else that should help the Falcons’ chances next weekend is the fact that Minnesota just lost their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, for the rest of the season due to a torn Achilles he suffered on Sunday.
Instead of Cousins, Atlanta will now likely get to go up against Vikings rookie quarterback Jaren Hall, who was drafted in the fifth round earlier this year.
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