Source: Falcons bench Mariota for rookie Ridder

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons person made a alteration astatine quarterback, turning to rookie Desmond Ridder and benching seasoned Marcus Mariota, a root told ESPN's Michael Rothstein connected Thursday.

The backmost power comes aft the Falcons person mislaid 4 of 5 games portion scoring much than 20 points conscionable erstwhile successful that stretch.

After Sunday's 19-16 nonaccomplishment to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Falcons manager Arthur Smith opened the anticipation of moving from Mariota to Ridder, saying they would beryllium evaluating each presumption during the bye week.

Mariota had missed aggregate unfastened receivers during the nonaccomplishment to the Steelers, continuing a season-long issue.

The Falcons selected Ridder successful the 3rd circular of this year's draught aft 4 years arsenic a starter astatine Cincinnati. The program each on had been to make Ridder down Mariota, who started the archetypal 13 games of the season.

Ridder worked down Mariota passim grooming camp, and portion helium played a batch successful the preseason, helium was ne'er successful a presumption to unseat Mariota earlier the play began.

Once the regular play started, Ridder ran the scout squad and would stitchery players aft signifier astir each time to get other repetitions. He besides worked with Mariota, asking him questions astir thing helium saw to assistance his preparation.

Ridder won 44 games astatine Cincinnati, the 3rd astir successful assemblage shot history, and ne'er mislaid astatine home. But helium said helium accepted helium would beryllium the backup successful Atlanta and would larn from it earlier hopefully becoming the apical guy.

That clip has arrived.

Mariota has been done this before. In 2019, the Tennessee Titans benched him successful favour of Ryan Tannehill. Mariota has talked astir that acquisition often -- what helium learned from it and however helium handled it.

He signed with Atlanta successful March connected the aforesaid time the Falcons traded Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. The woody reunited Mariota with Smith, who had been the violative coordinator for his last play with the Titans.

At the commencement of the season, it looked similar the reunion could work. Mariota managed the discourtesy good and had 1 of the champion games of his vocation successful Week 6, completing 92.9% of his passes for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns portion rushing six times for 50 yards and a touchdown successful a 28-14 triumph implicit the San Francisco 49ers, which earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Mariota offered the Falcons' discourtesy an added magnitude with his quality to tally -- helium has rushed a career-high 85 times for 438 yards and 4 touchdowns -- successful their run-heavy violative scheme.

Over the past month, though, Mariota's performances declined arsenic Atlanta gave him much passing attempts. During their 1-4 stretch, Mariota ne'er completed much than 65% of his passes successful a crippled and doubly completed nether 55%. He besides ne'er threw for much than 186 yards, contempt having astatine slightest 20 attempts successful each contest, portion throwing 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

This season, Mariota is 184-of-300 for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Mariota has been off-target connected 20.5% of his throws this season, tied with since-benched New York Jets backmost Zach Wilson for 3rd worst successful the NFL. The league mean is 15.2%. Receivers person dropped lone 2% of his throws.

In college, Ridder was 810-of-1,304 for 10,239 yards, 87 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He besides ran the shot 501 times for 2,180 yards and 28 touchdowns.