After the Falcons play the Cardinals on Sunday they will have their bye week, and after Atlanta’s bye Arthur Smith has alluded to deciding who will be the quarterback for the rest of the season once he and the rest of his coach staff has had a chance to “asses” the position. What does Taylor Heinicke have to do to remain the starter after the bye week? Earlier today The Morning Shift broke down why Arthur Smith’s decision to either continue to roll with Heinicke or turn back to Desmond Ridder won’t be based on Heinicke’s stats on Sunday.
Like Mike Johnson said, if Coach Smith is starting Heinicke right now because he is the “safe” option then Heinicke has to protect the ball, make the simple plays, move the offense up and down the field, and complete some vertical passes down the field. If Heinicke throws another interception, fumbles, or can’t get the Falcons in the endzone against the Cardinals on Sunday, don’t be surprised if Desmond Ridder is named the Falcons starting quarterback after the bye week.