Desmond Ridder will begin 2023 work as Falcons starting quarterback

PHOENIX – Desmond Ridder will enter prep for the 2023 season the same way he ended last year – as the Falcons starting quarterback.

Taylor Heinicke said as much after he signed a two-year deal with Atlanta, stating in no uncertain terms that he was here to be Ridder’s backup.

Head coach Arthur Smith made it official on Tuesday morning at the NFL owners meetings, saying that Ridder would start training camp as QB1.

“The plan is to start Desmond,” Smith said. “That’s our plan going forward right now.”

That isn’t a shock at this stage, despite the fact the Falcons were careful to leave the matter open to this point in the offseason. GM Terry Fontenot said at the NFL combine that the Falcons plans had been communicated to Ridder, a Cincinnati product taken No. 74 overall in last year’s NFL draft, so there would be no surprises by actions moving forward.

That included the addition of a veteran quarterback. Heinicke’s a savvy all-gas-no-brakes player with tons of starting experience. While competition within the position group will remain, Ridder will have an opportunity to work with the first unit and prove worthy of the starting gig.

“We’re very excited to have Taylor in the room, a guy with experience who has won games in this league,” Smith said. “The chemistry in the quarterback room is important, as we expect Desmond to take the next step. But we also have a guy who can go in and win you football games and be ready to play.”

Ridder made a solid impression during his first four NFL starts, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 717 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Falcons went 2-2 in his starts, including a comeback victory over Arizona. He showed steady progress during his time playing, clearly learning from experiences good and bad while developing both physically and mentally.

“I thought he made significant improvement from each start,” Smith said. “We expect him to make another leap this offseason. There are always things you can work on, with lower body mechanics. He can get more comfortable – when you don’t change systems that helps, too. We expect significant growth from him.”

Ridder never looked overwhelmed by the moment, even in a debut on the road in New Orleans. He showed a strong connection with fellow rookie Drake London and it will be interesting to see how well he pairs with Kyle Pitts, who was on injured reserve with a knee injury before Ridder took the reins. Ridder inspired confidence throughout his time as the starter,…