A couple of old Falcons friends are getting second shots in the NFL.
In the wake of Aiden O’Connell’s fractured thumb that landed him on the injured reserve, the Raiders signed Desmond Ridder to backup Gardner Minshew.
Ridder was dealt to the Cardinals this past offseason in exchange for Rondale Moore in a rare player-for-player trade after two seasons with Atlanta. There’s also a world where the Falcons see Ridder in primetime, a Week 15 Monday Night Football contest.
In reality, he’ll only be a backup, but his Falcons predecessor is possibly in line to start this weekend for the first time in two years. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a rib injury early in the club’s Week 7 victory over the Panthers. In his place, Marcus Mariota got some burn.
Daniels is considered week-to-week, but he did practice for the first time Friday, with Dan Quinn saying they’ll evaluate his status ahead of Washington’s game. The reigning Heisman did say he wants to play but that it isn’t his decision.
Jayden Daniels’s full media availability.
He didn’t give many concrete updates. He emphasized he’d like to play Sunday but acknowledged that’s not in his control. pic.twitter.com/vgED2fhUiV
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 25, 2024
In the 40-7 victory against the Panthers, Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 11 carries for 34 yards. The Bears have a good defense, but Mariota should feel comfortable in Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense.
In his career, Mariota is 2-0 against the Bears, with one win coming for the Falcons and one for the Titans. The former Atlanta quarterback could finally get another shot as a starter, even if it is as a stopgap option until Jayden Daniels gets healthy.
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