Falcons' Ridder to start Week 12 vs. Saints

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is expected to start the team's Week 12 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, the team announced Sunday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ridder was the backup quarterback for the last two games. He was benched following the club's Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans, during which the Cincinnati product left the game to be evaluated for a concussion and did not return. Head coach Arthur Smith made the switch to Taylor Heinicke the following week.

Ridder returned to action last week after Heinicke left the game in the second half due to a hamstring injury. He finished the contest with 50 total yards and a touchdown.

"Sometimes you need a fresh perspective," Smith said last week of Ridder, per Rapoport. "That's what I think helped him. The reset, the refocus and working on things that I thought could help him, he's done that."

The 24-year-old has been prone to turnovers this year, racking up 12 in eight starts. Atlanta believed the bulk of Ridder's mistakes were correctable and felt he had a lot of learning to do, according to James Palmer of NFL Network. A move back to Ridder was always the plan unless Heinicke went on a "ridiculous run," Palmer adds.

Ridder has completed 65% of his passes this season, throwing for 1,740 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. The Falcons are on the bye week and have a 4-6 record.