The Atlanta Falcons have made a bold move in the final game of the season, announcing that Desmond Ridder will start at quarterback. The rookie out of the University of Cincinnati has been on the Falcons’ roster since the start of the season, but has yet to see any regular season action.
Ridder was a four-year starter for the Bearcats, and was a two-time All-AAC selection. He finished his college career with 8,937 passing yards and 77 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,812 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was widely considered to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft, but surprisingly fell to the Falcons in the sixth round.
The Falcons have been struggling this season, and are currently 3-12. They have been using veteran Matt Ryan as their starting quarterback, but have been unable to find any success. With nothing to lose in the final game of the season, the Falcons have decided to give Ridder a chance to prove himself at the NFL level.
Ridder will be facing a tough test in his first NFL start, as he will be going up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are currently 10-5 and have one of the best defenses in the league. It will be interesting to see how Ridder performs under pressure, and if he can give the Falcons a spark heading into next season.
This is a great opportunity for Ridder to show what he can do, and it will be exciting to see how he performs in his first NFL start. The Falcons have nothing to lose by giving him a chance, and it could potentially pay off in a big way if he is able to impress. It will be interesting to see how Ridder fares in this high-pressure situation, and if he can give the Falcons some hope for the future.