In the Atlanta Falcons' preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Desmond Ridder made his first appearance since week 18 of the previous season. Ridder's performance was largely positive, completing 7 of 9 passes for 80 yards. He demonstrated his ability to move the chains by connecting with receivers like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson for crucial first downs. However, Ridder's only mistake of the night was an intercepted pass that ended the night for most of the starting offense.
Given Ridder's overall positive performance, there's a question of whether he needs to take the field again in the upcoming preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Terrin Waack, an Atlanta Falcons digital team reporter, addressed this question during an appearance on Abe-T-L. Waack explained that Ridder has already shown what Arthur Smith, the head coach, wanted to see through his four starts last season, his performance during offseason training, and his showing in the recent preseason game against the Bengals. As a result, Waack doesn't anticipate Ridder taking the field in the next preseason game against the Steelers.
This decision likely stems from a combination of factors, including evaluating Ridder's progress, giving other players a chance to showcase their abilities, and avoiding the risk of injury to key players ahead of the regular season. It's common practice for coaches to manage the playing time of their starters during the preseason, with an emphasis on preserving their health and ensuring they're ready for the regular season opener.
You can see the Falcons progress Thursday, August 24th at 7:30pm as the Falcons have their third preseason game at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tune into 92.9 The Game for your Atlanta Falcons games, game day coverage and updates on Audacy.com or the Audacy app.