Injuries have impacted many teams this 2024 NFL season. Recently, Aidan O’Connell broke his thumb during a game against the Los Angeles Rams, leaving the Raiders without their starting quarterback.

Reports suggest Gardner Minshew will start again after losing the job to O’Connell. However, the Raiders also signed Desmond Ridder to compete with Minshew and add depth to their roster.

Desmond Ridder gives a touching statement on his Raiders arrival

The Raiders have faced a challenging 2024 season. Since Derek Carr’s departure last year, they have struggled to find a consistent quarterback, and their search seems to continue.

After moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo in the offseason, the team brought in Gardner Minshew to compete with O’Connell. Minshew won the starting job but was quickly replaced after five games by O’Connell, who broke his thumb in Week 7 and will miss several weeks.

To bolster their roster, the Raiders signed Desmond Ridder, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year. Ridder, who started for the Falcons in 2023, now has another opportunity and is determined to make the most of it.

“I was just cut three months ago, that should be enough opportunity, enough motivation to keep me going anytime,” Ridder said. “Back home, I got the call and everything. And my daughter’s like, ‘Daddy, where you going?’ I’m like, ‘I gotta go to Vegas.’ But I know I do everything for them. I do everything for my family. So this is just another opportunity to go out and prove to them, prove to myself, prove to everyone, that I can be out here.”

The Cardinals didn’t add Ridder to their 53-man roster, opting to keep Clayton Tune as the backup instead. Despite this, Ridder now has a prime opportunity with the Raiders, especially following Gardner Minshew’s struggles early in the season.

What is Desmond Ridder’s contract with the Las Vegas Raiders?

Desmond Ridder will certainly provide strong competition for Gardner Minshew in Las Vegas. The former Falcons quarterback left Atlanta after Kirk Cousins arrived, though this doesn’t necessarily imply he’s not capable of starting in the NFL.

Following his release from the Cardinals, Ridder entered free agency and has now signed a one-year, $985,000 deal with the Raiders. He’s hoping to secure an extension by the end of the 2024 season, proving his worth as a reliable option under center.

“If we had better quarterback play, I’m probably not standing here at this podium,” Morris told reporters at the Scouting Combine on Tuesday, as quoted by Pro Football Talk.

The 47-year-old is replacing Arthur Smith, who was fired after three consecutive seasons with a 7-10 record and no postseason appearances. His biggest challenge will probably be to solve the Falcons’ problem at quarterback, as the franchise has struggled since parting with longtime QB Matt Ryan in 2022.

Marcus Mariota was Atlanta’s first option in the post-Ryan era, but it wasn’t long before the veteran QB was replaced by Ridder, who was still a rookie by then. However, the third-round pick ended up being benched by Heinicke in 2023. With Morris making his thoughts clear on the Falcons’ QB play, the question is who will lead the offense from now on.

“I won’t bring up names,” Morris said. “But when you’re going through the process you have everything open. We’ve got so many avenues right now because we have free agency money, we have the ability to trade, whether it be trade for a player with a team, or be it trade up or back in the draft. It’s just really about the different scenarios you want to have at the quarterback position.”

QB situation a big challenge for Morris in Atlanta

The 19th head coach in franchise history, Morris faces the task of turning the Falcons around after years of misery. He arrives in Atlanta with a strong reputation from his time with the Los Angeles Rams, where he served as defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023.

In fact, Morris has such an interesting profile that the Falcons chose him over former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick, who interviewed twice for the job.

Morris’ work in LA included the Rams’ Super Bowl victory in 2022, with their defense ranking fourth in red zone efficiency rating and seventh in fewest rushing yards per game in the league over the last three seasons.

But the question is whether he’ll be able to fix an offense that has struggled since Ryan left the organization two years ago. Morris’ strength to run a defense is unquestionable, but his ability to upgrade an offense will be put to the test this year.

Fumbles can raise doubts about a quarterback’s ability to protect the ball and make sound decisions. This can make it difficult for them to find a job in the NFL or keep their job if they are already employed.

Russell Wilson also struggled in the 2022 season with 6 fumbles. He was playing for the Denver Broncos in what was supposed to be a special season for him, but things did not go as expected.

The QB leading in fumbles entering Week 8

According to Pro Football Reference, the NFL quarterback with the most fumbles entering Week 8 is Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Desmond Ridder with 6 fumbles. The second quarterback is CJ Stroud of the Texans with only 3 fumbles.

After seven weeks things are relatively good for the Atlanta Falcons and Desmond Ridder, winning record of 4-3, they won last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road 16-13.

The Falcons have a number of weapons to offer Ridder, including wide receivers Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Cordarrelle Patterson, as well as running back Tyler Allgeier. Ridder will also have the benefit of playing in a new offensive scheme under head coach Arthur Smith, who is known for his run-heavy approach.

Ridder’s success in the second half of the 2023 season will be crucial to the Falcons’ hopes of making a playoff run. The Falcons have a young and talented roster, but they will need Ridder to take a step forward and become a franchise quarterback if they want to compete.

Could Desmond Ridder’s fumbling problems derail the Falcons’ playoff run?

It is possible. Fumbles are a major turnover that can lead to points for the opposing team. If Ridder continues to fumble, it could cost the Falcons games and ruin their chances of making the playoffs. However, Ridder is still a young quarterback, and he has shown potential to be a good player.

What can the Falcons do to help Desmond Ridder reduce his fumbles?

There are a number of things that the Falcons can do to help Desmond Ridder reduce his fumbles. They can work with him on his ball handling and pocket awareness in practice. They can also design the offense in a way that minimizes his risk of fumbling. For example, they can call more running plays and fewer passing plays.

The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a significant transition after the departure of their long-time quarterback, Matt Ryan. Last season marked the first year without him, and they turned to the experienced Marcus Mariota to take the helm.

While Mariota’s playing style aligned well with their run-first offensive approach, his performances fell short of expectations, leading to his departure. In the 2022 draft, the Falcons took a calculated risk by selecting Desmond Ridder in the third round, despite it being a year for quarterbacks.

Ridder had a chance to prove himself late last season when he became the starter, showing promising potential. This season, he has solidified his position as the clear option, and his leadership abilities shine as he leads the league in game-winning drives.

Ridder’s Game-Winning Drives

The Falcons are currently positioned second in a competitive NFC South with a 3-2 record. What sets their three wins apart is the fact that they all came with the team trailing, highlighting Ridder’s ability to perform in clutch situations.

This season, Ridder has orchestrated three game-winning drives, a league-leading statistic. While it’s not ideal for a team to frequently find themselves behind, it underscores his capacity to stay focused and deliver under pressure.

His most recent game-winning drive was impressive, guiding the Falcons to a victory against the Texans with less than two minutes left on the clock, resulting in a field goal by Younghoe Koo. His other moments occurred in week 1 against the Panthers and in week 2 against the Packers.

How Old Is Desmond Ridder?

Desmond Ridder is 24 years old.

Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback taken in the first two rounds of the Draft (Pittsburgh Steelers), but, the Falcons waited patiently for their chance. With the No. 74 overall pick in the third round, Atlanta made the call to get Desmond Ridder after his impressive college career at the University of Cincinnati.

Ridder was a two-time AAC Offensive Playerof the Year and right now he is in a great situation as a rookie in the NFL. He might not be rushed to take the field and has the time to learn a system which will be designed for him to be Matt Ryan’s heir. There hasn’t been much talk around Desmond Ridder. Still, he could be the next NFL star at any momentand here you can find more details about this amazing player.

How old is Desmond Ridder?

Desmond Ridderis23years old. He was born on August31, 1999in Louisville, Kentucky. Although he had an offer to play in his native state with Eastern Kentucky in college, he finally decided to go to Cincinnati. That decision changed his entire career and Ridder amassed superb numbers: 10 239 yards, 87 touchdowns and led the Bearcats to a College Footbal Playoff berth on 2021. They lost in the semifinals against a powerhouse such as Alabama.

Desmond Ridder’s family: Who are his parents?

Desmond Ridder story is amazing. His mother, Sarah Ridder, was only 15 years old when she gave birth and worked tirelessly to raise alone the future NFL quarterback. Desmond’s biological father was never there for him and his maternal grandmother was also a crucial piece who helped his mother. In a single-parent household, Sarah was simply a remarkable example of strength. By the way, Jan, his grandmother, taught Desmond how to throw a football when he was just a kid.

Who is Desmond Ridder’s girlfriend?

Just a few months ago, July to be precise, Desmond Ridder got married tohis longtime girlfriend Claire Cornett. They’ve been dating for at least six years and went together to the University of Cincinnati. She earned a degree in political science. Before getting married, the couple had a daughter: Leighton Elizabeth Ridder who was born on April of 2021.

Desmond Ridder contract: What is his salary?

As a third-round pick in the2022 NFL Draft, Desmond Riddersigned a four-year,$5.3million contractwith the Atlanta Falcons including a$1.08 millionsigning bonus. He was the last draft pick on the team to sign his rookie contract and has a fifth-year option.