With the 2022 NFL season rapidly waning and playoff races narrowing, the Atlanta Falcons will reportedly make a major shakeup.
According to multiple reports, the team will bench starting quarterback Marcus Mariota following its Week 14 bye and will turn to Desmond Ridder for the rest of the season.
Atlanta’s remaining four games this season will be against the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the first two coming on the road.
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Falcons (5-8) head coach Arthur Smith was asked about making a potential change at quarterback following the team’s 19-16 loss Sunday against the Steelers — Atlanta’s fourth defeat in its last five games — and Smith had left the door open.
“Everything is on the table,” Smith told reporters Sunday. “We got this late bye [week], we got a quarter of the season left and we will come into tomorrow and talk as a staff this week. Certainly, every option is on the table.”
Ridder, 23, was the team’s third-round selection in the most recent draft. He threw for 10,239 yards and 87 touchdowns in four seasons at Cincinnati. In Atlanta’s first preseason game of the year, Ridder threw a game-winning touchdown against the Lions.
Mariota had played moderately well this season, though his accuracy had been an issue. Through 13…
