<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raiders-antonio-pierce-desmond-ridder-stay-defiant-after-ugly-loss-to-falcons');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raiders’ Antonio Pierce, Desmond Ridder stay defiant after ugly loss to Falcons');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Antonio-Pierce-Desmond-Ridder-stay-defiant-after-ugly-loss-to-Falcons.jpg"></figure><h1>Raiders’ Antonio Pierce, Desmond Ridder stay defiant after ugly loss to Falcons</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T07:29:30-08:00">December 17th, 7:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T07:29:30-08:00">December 17th, 7:29am</time><address><a>Ryan Bologna</a>Ryan Bologna is an author at ClutchPoints. He studied journalism and communication at UConn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Las Vegas Raiders</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Las Vegas Raiders dropped to 2-12 on the season with a 15-9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, and despite the losses piling up, head coach Antonio Pierce and quarterback Desmond Ridder said the team is <a href="https://x.com/VicTafur/status/1868892966989053996" rel="noopener">still working hard</a> to get that third win on the season.</p><p>“These guys are not budging. I am not budging,” Pierce said, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “We’ll keep chopping wood and at some point the damn thing will break and go our way.”</p><p>Pierce is possibly coaching to keep his job in 2025, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-mark-davis-reveals-tom-brady-have-huge-voice-las-vegas-qb-search">as the Raiders could decide</a> to clean house if this season keeps going this way in the final three games. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-desmond-ridder-start-vs-falcons-aidan-oconnell-injury">The Raiders are in play</a> for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it could be argued that they should reset in the front office and at head coach. Ridder, who took over the starting role this week due to Aidan O’Connell’s injury, <a href="https://x.com/VicTafur/status/1868890034000236744" rel="noopener">echoed the sentiment</a> of Pierce.</p><p>“It’s tough being in the position we are in,” Ridder said, via Tafur. “We’re just searching… searching for a win, searching for positive energy. We fight every single week. But we just keep saying that we fight and nothing is happening where we can go push over the edge and get a win.”</p><p>Ridder was looking for a win against his former team, but was unable to do so after a final drive came up short. It is unknown whether or not he will play this coming week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, depending on O’Connell’s status.</p><h2><b>How will Raiders finish 2024 season?</b></h2><p>As mentioned before, the Raiders will play the Jaguars this upcoming week. That is likely their best chance for a win before the end of the season. It will be interesting to see the type of effort they come out with. Both teams are banged up in multiple areas.</p><p>Following the game against the Jaguars, the Raiders have games against the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers to close the season. The Saints game could be winnable for Los Angeles, given that Derek Carr is likely to miss that game due to injury. The Chargers game on paper is the toughest, but they could be resting starters at that point, depending on what the playoff scenarios are.</p><p>It will be interesting to see how the Raiders close the season, if there are any changes made to the front office and coaching staff, and where they end up picking in the 2025 NFL Draft.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raiders’ Antonio Pierce, Desmond Ridder stay defiant after ugly loss to Falcons

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raiders-news-desmond-ridder-start-vs-falcons-aidan-oconnell-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raiders ‘expected’ to start Desmond Ridder vs Falcons amid Aidan O’Connell injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raiders-news-Desmond-Ridder-expected-to-start-vs-Falcons-amid-Aidan-OConnell-injury.jpg"></figure><h1>Raiders ‘expected’ to start Desmond Ridder vs Falcons amid Aidan O’Connell injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T09:36:47-08:00">December 16th, 9:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T09:59:51-08:00">December 16th, 9:59am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Las Vegas Raiders</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Las Vegas Raiders are <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1868707118377058595" rel="noopener">making a change at quarterback</a>, as they’re expecting to start Desmond Ridder against the Atlanta Falcons as the No. 1 quarterback after Aidan O’Connell’s injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The news comes after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-rumors-aidan-oconnell-a-long-shot-to-play-for-raiders-in-week-15">O’Connell was deemed a longshot to play for the Raiders</a> in Week 15. Now, the news is official, and it will give Ridder his first start since the 2023 season.</p><p>In that season, Ridder threw for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He was benched midway through the year and replaced by Taylor Heinecke. Since then, he’s bounced around from practice squad to practice squad. However, Monday’s game against the Falcons marks his first start, and it comes against his former team.</p><p>Las Vegas is on its third quarterback after injuries limited Gardner Minshew II and O’Connell. Luckily, the Raiders are gearing up for a quarterback in the NFL Draft. Two of the top names, Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, highlight an exceptional class. Regardless, Ridder has proven he can win games. For instance, he had four game-winning drives in the 2023 season.</p><h2><b>Desmond Ridder has a bright opportunity for the Raiders</b></h2><p>After a sour ending to his time in Atlanta, the former Cincinnati football quarterback has bounced everywhere. For instance, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-returns-arizona-practice-squad-shocking-release">Ridder was suddenly released by the Arizona Cardinals</a>, after being on the main roster. He has the talent and composure to win big games. Even if he’s a bit mistake-prone, Ridder is more than capable of putting together a solid performance.</p><p>The offense is a bit thin, but he has rookie Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers as his top pass-catching options. Not to mention, Ridder knows the Falcons defensive scheme about as well as anybody. While they have Jesse Bates III and AJ Terrell, the former quarterback could exploit any defensive lapses.</p><p>However, Monday’s game could pose a dilemma for the Raiders. The Giants have the worst record currently at 2-12. Although Las Vegas hasn’t played, they <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/news/report-do-raiders-have-best-chance-to-earn-top-draft-pick-01jesq9ycfkp#:~:text=The%20Giants%20have%20a%2038.9,round%20out%20the%20top%20nine." rel="noopener">might be interested in playing for a draft pick</a>. On the flip side, the Falcons are sitting at 6-7 and have been underwhelming. If they want to make the playoffs, they’ll need to keep winning, and that comes with a win against the Raiders.</p><p>No matter what, Ridder could prove to many once again that he’s capable of being an NFL starter. As long as O’Connell’s injury persists, Ridder may start for the rest of the season. Depending on how Monday’s game goes, Ridder could have eyes on him as a premier backup or even a No. 1 option.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raiders ‘expected’ to start Desmond Ridder vs Falcons amid Aidan O’Connell injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raiders-news-desmond-ridder-start-for-las-vegas-if-aidan-oconnell-cant-play');   ga('set', 'title', 'Desmond Ridder set to start for Raiders if Aidan O’Connell can’t play');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Desmond-Ridder-set-to-start-for-Las-Vegas-if-Aidan-OConnell-cant-play.jpg"></figure><h1>Desmond Ridder set to start for Raiders if Aidan O’Connell can’t play</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T12:24:36-08:00">December 9th, 12:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T12:24:36-08:00">December 9th, 12:24pm</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Las Vegas Raiders</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Las Vegas <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-antonio-pierce-rips-team-chiefs-showdown">Raiders are having an awful 2024 season</a>. Las Vegas is 2-11 heading into Week 15 and is in contention for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. To make matters worse, the Raiders may be onto their third starting QB of the season.</p><p>Raiders QB <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-aidan-oconnell-carted-off-big-hit-buccaneers">Aidan O’Connell suffered what looked like a serious knee injury</a> on Sunday. Head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed on Monday that if O’Connell is unable to play, backup Desmond Ridder <a href="https://x.com/PGutierrezESPN/status/1866198612021223482" rel="noopener">would take over as the starter</a>, per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-aidan-oconnell-injury-confirmed-season-ending">O’Connell was feared to have suffered a season-ending injury on Sunday</a>. However, it was confirmed on Monday that O’Connell <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1866208252431659210" rel="noopener">actually suffered a bone bruise in his knee</a>, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport.</p><p>Rapaport also confirmed that O’Connell has not yet been ruled out for the team’s Week 15 game.</p><p>Desmond Ridder finished the game for the Raiders on Sunday. He had a decent outing, going 12-of-18 for 101 passing yards. His stats were almost identical to O’Connell’s 11-of-19 for 104 passing yards and an interception.</p><p>Las Vegas will be in trouble regardless of which quarterback is under center for the rest of the season.</p><p>Next up for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/schedule/upcoming">Raiders is a Week 15 matchup against the Falcons</a>.</p><h2><b>Raiders’ Brock Bowers breaks Sam LaPorta’s rookie record on Sunday</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Las-Vegas-Raiders-TE-Brock-Bowers.jpg"><figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Rookie tight end Brock Bowers is one of the few signs of hope for the future in Las Vegas.</p><p>Bowers hauled in his 87th reception of the season on Sunday, which made NFL history. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-brock-bowers-roy-case-breaking-sam-laportas-record">Bowers passed Lions tight end Sam LaPorta for the most receptions by a rookie tight end</a> in league history. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lions-news-sam-laporta-reaches-uncharted-te-feat-no-rookie-has-ever-done-before">LaPorta logged 86 receptions for 889 and 10 touchdowns in 2023</a>.</p><p>Bowers has 87 receptions for 933 yards and four touchdowns with four games left to play in his rookie season.</p><p>It is important to note that Las Vegas has little offensive talent on the roster. As a result, Bowers does not have much competition for targets and he has a ton of receptions as a result.</p><p>That’s doesn’t mean that Bowers is a fraud. Far from it. It is simply important context when considering rookie tight end records.</p><p>It will be interesting to see how the Raiders build their offense around Bowers moving forward.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Desmond Ridder set to start for Raiders if Aidan O’Connell can’t play

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raiders-news-desmond-ridder-aidan-oconnell-chiefs-gardner-minshew');   ga('set', 'title', 'Will Raiders’ Desmond Ridder or Aidan O’Connell start vs. Chiefs in place of Gardner Minshew?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Raiders-news-Will-Desmond-Ridder-or-Aidan-O-Connell-start-vs-Chiefs-in-place-of-Gardner-Minshew.jpg"></figure><h1>Will Raiders’ Desmond Ridder or Aidan O’Connell start vs. Chiefs in place of Gardner Minshew?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-25T06:49:40-08:00">November 25th, 6:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-25T06:49:40-08:00">November 25th, 6:49am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Las Vegas Raiders</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Las Vegas Raiders had to make a change at quarterback in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-gardner-minshew-suffers-season-ending-injury-broncos">Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone</a>. Desmond Ridder came in and finished the game, but the Raiders still lost. Now with Minshew out for the season, the big question is between Ridder and Aidan O’Connell, <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-qb-gardner-minshew-out-for-season-after-suffering-broken-collarbone-in-loss-to-broncos" rel="noopener">who will be the starting quarterback</a> for the rest of the season?</p><p>“Ridder seems to be in line to start in Week 13, but O’Connell, who’s fractured thumb was expected to keep him out for four to six weeks, is eligible to come off injured reserve this week,” NFL Network’s Michael Baca wrote. “That potential return has two days fewer than any normal week, however, as the Raiders face the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday.”</p><p>The Raiders have been shuffling quarterbacks all season, so this isn’t anything new when it comes to position. There could also be a change that O’Connell and Ridder both play in the second half of the season.</p><h2>What will the Raiders do at quarterback?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Gardner-Minshew.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Raiders have played all three of their quarterbacks this season. Gardner Minshew won the starting job at the beginning of the season and then lost it to Aidan O’Connell when they were 2-3. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-vegas-painful-aidan-oconnell-ir-move">O’Connell then suffered a fractured thumb</a> against the Los Angeles Rams, and Minshew took his job back.</p><p>After Minshew broke his collarbone, Desmond Ridder came into the game and fumbled the ball on his second snap. On the Raiders’ next offensive drive, Ridder led the team to the red zone, but they didn’t come away with any points as he was sacked as time expired.</p><p>With the Raiders losing their seventh game in a row, it’s possible at this point during the season that they’re just trying to see what they have in some of their young players. Ridder and O’Connell could be playing for who is the starting quarterback next season for the Raiders, or they could be auditioning for another job.</p><p>The Raiders will most likely look for another quarterback in the draft, depending on where they finish in the standings. It’s been a rollercoaster season for the team, and it feels like they need a fresh start. It’s not certain if there will be any change-ups with the coaching staff, but there will definitely be a different set of players coming in. As of now, the Raiders just need to focus on finishing this season and see if they can continue to stay competitive in their games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Will Raiders’ Desmond Ridder or Aidan O’Connell start vs. Chiefs in place of Gardner Minshew?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/desmond-ridder-net-worth');   ga('set', 'title', 'Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0Desmond-Ridders-net-worth-in-20240.jpg"></figure><h1>Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-08T08:05:27-08:00">November 8th, 8:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-08T08:10:52-08:00">November 8th, 8:10am</time><address><a>Nate Duffett</a>Nate Duffett is a writer for ClutchPoints and a sports junkie at heart, especially for the Boston sports scene. In his spare time, he coaches hockey and is also a Hockey Scout at FCHockey and NeutralZone. Whether it's covering the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, or College Football and Basketball, there is not a sport Nate isn't able to discuss.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Desmond Ridders’s net worth in 2023 is $2 million. The former University of Cincinnati quarterback burst onto the scene with the Bearcats success in 2020 and 2021 and is now the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-gardner-minshew-benched-desmond-ridder-bengals">starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders</a>. Let’s look at Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024.</p><h2><b>What is Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024?: $2 million (estimate)</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Desmond-Ridder-throws-a-pass.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><p>From a Cinderella run in college to getting drafted to the NFL, Desmond Ridder has been destined for a career in professional football. Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024 <a href="https://thesportslite.com/net-worth/desmond-ridder-net-worth-2023-nfl-salary-endorsements-properties-charities-etc/" rel="noopener">is $2 million</a>, according to The Sports Lite.</p><p>Desmond Ridder was born on Aug. 31, 1999, in Louisville, Ky. He attended and played football at St. Xavier High School. Ridder’s numbers in high school didn’t scream “Future NFL quarterback” passing for 1,319 yards and nine touchdowns.</p><p>He also ran for 668 yards and 12 touchdowns. The popular recruiting site Rivals.com gave him a two-star rating. He received offers from Eastern Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati, opting to join the Bearcats. Signing his National Letter of Intent with Cincinnati would be the best move for his football career.</p><h2><b>Desmond Ridder’s college career</b></h2><p>Ridder redshirted in his true freshman season with Cincinnati but was named starter as a redshirt freshman in 2018. He passed for 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns and gained 583 yards rushing with five touchdowns.</p><p>Ridder earned the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore season, Ridder’s statistics stayed consistent, but he was the Birmingham Bowl MVP after a 38-6 victory over Boston College.</p><p>Ridder’s breakout began in 2020, as Cincinnati began to climb up the National rankings. After the season, Ridder won AAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.</p><p>On the heels of Cincinnati’s success, Ridder opted to return for his redshirt senior season. The Bearcats were happy with his decision, as the quarterback led them to a 12-0 record and the honor of being the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff.</p><p>Unfortunately, the Bearcats fell to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, 27-6. Ridder would once again get AAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.</p><h2><b>Desmond Ridder’s professional career</b></h2><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Desmond Ridder was definitely a Sk8er Boi. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/gmfb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gmfb</a>) <a href="https://t.co/CVIgNUbFzv">pic.twitter.com/CVIgNUbFzv</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1509538507110371334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Ridder attended the NFL scouting combine with quarterbacks Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, and Matt Corral, regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft. Many experts had Ridder as a first-round pick in their rankings, but he fell to the Atlanta Falcons at 74th overall.</p><p>Due to his fall in the draft, Ridder signed a four-year, $5.4 million contract, much less than if he had gone in the first round as projected.</p><p>Ridder lost out to Marcus Mariota in the Falcons’ starting quarterback competition. However, Mariota didn’t hold on to the position, paving the way for Ridder to make his debut in Week 15. Ridder would close out the season as QB1 on the Falcons.</p><p>As the starter, Ridder compiled a 2-2 record with 708 passing yards and two touchdowns. Highly touted as being a dual-threat quarterback, Ridder only ran for 64 yards in the four games.</p><p>In 2023, Ridder went 6-7 as a starter and threw for 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Following the season, the Falcons signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a multiyear contract. They then traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals.</p><p>However, Ridder failed to earn a roster spot and ended up on the Cardinals’ practice squad. In October 2024, The Raiders signed Ridder when QB Aiden O’Connell broke the thumb on this throwing hand. After coming off the bench for a couple games for the Raiders, head coach Antonio Pierce announced that Ridder was going to start over Gardner Minshew.</p><h2><b>Desmond Ridder endorsements</b></h2><p>Desmond Ridder has compiled quite a list of endorsements in his young career, with some of the biggest brands in the world. So far, the young quarterback has signed with BYLT Clothing, Bose, Candy Digital, Dr. Pepper, FedEx, Vrst, Cyrospring Cold Plunges, and Cross Jeep.</p><p>He has also invested in <a href="https://www.osdbsports.com/nfl/players/desmond-ridder/business/6bf35760-217c-401d-b80b-2ae7cc5d7564" rel="noopener">19 </a>companies, showing that he has the business savvy and discipline to capitalize on his financial success. The companies range from clothing to coffee to sports equipment.</p><p>Ridder has shown respect for his family, his mother, who birthed him as a 15-year-old, and his grandmother did everything they could to make sure he grew up in a good home. It is no surprise that Ridder is making the necessary moves to ensure that he accrues generational wealth.</p><p>The biggest way for him to do this is to excel on Sundays and get his next big contract. While he may have had to settle for a below-average rookie deal, Ridder will do anything to ensure his next one is better.</p><p>Were you surprised by Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Desmond Ridder’s net worth in 2024

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raiders-news-gardner-minshew-benched-desmond-ridder-bengals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raiders’ Gardner Minshew benched for Desmond Ridder vs. Bengals');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Raiders-news-Gardner-Minshew-benched-for-Desmond-Ridder-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Raiders’ Gardner Minshew benched for Desmond Ridder vs. Bengals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-03T12:30:08-08:00">November 3rd, 12:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-03T12:47:34-08:00">November 3rd, 12:47pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Las Vegas Raiders</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Sunday has been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-antonio-pierce-stance-coaching-change-las-vegas-slump">another disastrous outing for the Las Vegas Raiders</a>, as the Cincinnati Bengals are blowing them out in the second half. After keeping pace with the explosive Bengals offense for a while, Cincinnati pulled away and is now leading by three scores as the clock winds down.</p><p>During the second half, head coach Antonio Pierce <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1853169637133078793" rel="noopener">decided that he had had enough</a> of an offense that just couldn’t move the ball consistently against a Bengals defense that has been terrible for most of the year. During the third quarter, the Raiders benched quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of former Atlanta Falcons signal caller Desmond Ridder.</p><p>The Ridder experience in Las Vegas didn’t get off to a great start, as the Raiders went three-and-out during his first series.</p><p>This is the second time that Minshew has been benched this season after Aidan O’Connell replaced him during a loss to the Denver Broncos last month. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-vegas-painful-aidan-oconnell-ir-move">O’Connell is currently on injured reserve</a> due to a thumb injury.</p><p>Minshew’s stat line isn’t completely ugly, but he was ineffective for most of the game. When he was benched, the longtime veteran was 10-for-17 with 124 yards and a lost fumble. However, the Raiders weren’t able to move the ball almost at all after an opening drive touchdown against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-desmond-ridder-emotional-new-career-chapter">Ridder is getting his second chance with the Raiders</a> after a failed stint in Atlanta to start his career. He started most of the season in 2023 for the Falcons, throwing 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing just over 64% of his passes. The Raiders are hoping that he can find his footing in the league in Las Vegas.</p><p>With O’Connell out for at least a few more weeks, there’s a chance that Ridder is the guy for the Raiders moving forward, at least until O’Connell returns. It’s hard to see Pierce and the Raiders going back to Minshew after two separate beachings in the span of one month.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raiders’ Gardner Minshew benched for Desmond Ridder vs. Bengals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raiders-news-desmond-ridder-emotional-new-career-chapter');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raiders’ Desmond Ridder gets emotional about new career chapter');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Raiders-news-Desmond-Ridder-gets-emotional-about-new-career-chapter.jpg"></figure><h1>Raiders’ Desmond Ridder gets emotional about new career chapter</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-23T17:08:14-07:00">October 23rd, 5:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-23T17:15:47-07:00">October 23rd, 5:15pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After losing starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell to a fractured thumb, the Las Vegas Raiders signed QB <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-add-qb-nfc-team-practice-squad-aidan-oconnell-injury">Desmond Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad</a>. O’Connell was injured one week after being <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-antonio-pierce-aidan-oconnell-qb1-week-6">named the Raiders starter</a>. With the previously benched Gardner Minshew back under center, Las Vegas added Ridder to the quarterback room</p><p>On Wednesday, the newest Raiders QB was asked by reporters how he <a href="https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB/status/1849212157545628040" rel="noopener">maintains his desire</a> to keep trying to start in the NFL. “I was just cut three months ago. That should be enough opportunity, enough motivation to keep me going any time,” Ridder explained via The 33rd Team on X.</p><p>He continued, his voice nearly breaking with emotion, “You know, back home I got the call and everything. And my daughter was like ‘Daddy, where are you going?’ I’m like, ‘I gotta go to Vegas.’ But I know I’d do everything for them. I’d do everything for my family. This is just another opportunity to go out and prove to them, prove to myself, prove to everyone I can be out here and go do this.”</p><p>When asked in a follow up question if he had a chip on his shoulder with something to prove to the rest of the league, Ridder admitted, “<a href="https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB/status/1849212157545628040" rel="noopener">Yeah for sure</a>. It’s not even to the rest of the league, it’s to myself. I know what I can do, I know what I can be. Now I just gotta go do it,” per The 33rd Team.</p><h2><b>Former Falcon Desmond Ridder is making the most of a chance with the Raiders</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Desmond-Ridder_868436.jpg"><figcaption>Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ridder was a third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 draft. He started 17 games for the Falcons over his first two seasons in the league. However, when Atlanta decided to acquire former Minnesota Vikings veteran Kirk Cousins, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-trade-falcons-rondale-moore">Ridder was traded to the Cardinals</a> for wide receiver Rondale Moore.</p><p>Ridder was expected to land the backup QB role behind starter Kyler Murray in Arizona. However, he was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-arizona-releasing-desmind-ridder-clayton-tune-wins-backup-role">cut by the Cardinals</a> after Clayton Tune won the understudy job for the team. Shortly after being released, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-returns-arizona-practice-squad-shocking-release">Ridder was signed to the Cardinals practice squad</a>.</p><p>The former Cincinnati standout should have an opportunity to start with the Raiders. Head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-antonio-pierce-benches-gardner-minshew-after-crucial-mistake-vs-broncos">Antonio Pierce already benched Minshew</a> for turning the ball over too often. But after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-aidan-oconnell-heads-to-locker-room-after-hard-hit-vs-rams">O’Connell was forced from the team’s Week 7 game</a> against the Los Angeles Rams, Minshew threw for 154 scoreless yards with three interceptions. He also lost a fumble. The four-turnover day must have infuriated Pierce, especially with the Raiders only losing by a score of 20-15.</p><p>The Raiders were forced to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-vegas-painful-aidan-oconnell-ir-move">move O’Connell to the injured reserve</a>. The team expects him to miss 4-6 weeks with a broken thumb sustained against the Rams.</p><p>The 2-5 Raiders take on the 6-0 Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. Las Vegas is in last place in the AFC West. If Pierce is truly done with Minshew, the team could eventually give Ridder an opportunity to fill in while O’Connell is out.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raiders’ Desmond Ridder gets emotional about new career chapter

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-returns-arizona-practice-squad-shocking-release');   ga('set', 'title', 'Desmond Ridder returns to Cardinals on practice squad after shocking release');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cardinals-news-Desmond-Ridder-returns-to-Arizona-on-practice-squad-after-shocking-release.jpg"></figure><h1>Desmond Ridder returns to Cardinals on practice squad after shocking release</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-28T11:20:27-07:00">August 28th, 11:20am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-28T11:20:27-07:00">August 28th, 11:20am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Desmond Ridder had made his return to the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday after his shocking release on Tuesday, as he was <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1828835533130506600" rel="noopener">signed to the team’s practice squad</a>, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback was cut after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-arizona-releasing-desmind-ridder-clayton-tune-wins-backup-role">losing the backup quarterback battle</a> to Clayton Tune.</p><p>Via Tom Pelissero:</p><p>“The Cardinals are re-signing QB Desmond Ridder to the practice squad, per source.”</p><p>Ridder was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-trade-falcons-rondale-moore">sent to the Cardinals</a> in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore. Although many skeptics believe one side won the trade, Arizona knew what they were getting in Ridder, and that still rings true even though he’s on the team’s practice squad.</p><p>Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray returned from an ACL injury that sidelined him for nearly a year in 2023, so adding some depth at the quarterback position over the offseason was important. While Arizona doesn’t expect another freak injury to happen, as a team, you have to prepare for the worst sometimes, which is why having Ridder as a safety option on the practice squad is a big win for the team.</p><h2><b>Can Desmond Ridder make a jump forward with the Cardinals?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Desmond-Ridder-under-center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Ridder certainly showed flashes in preseason, as he completed <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41018118/qb-desmond-ridder-waived-cardinals-cut-day" rel="noopener">20 of 35 pass attempts for 225 yards</a> in the Cardinals three games. The battle between him and Tune was intense, as there was no clear favorite. Still, it’s important to remember why Ridder was taken by the Falcons in the third round. He dominated at Cincinnati, winning the 2020 and 2021 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, while also leading the Bearcats to an undefeated season.</p><p>When Ridder was drafted by the Falcons, he didn’t develop as quickly as they thought he would. As a result, inconsistencies lingered. Problems with fumbles, unnecessary sacks, and forced interceptions didn’t help Ridder’s case. With the Falcons getting an established quarterback in Kirk Cousins this offseason, they sent their 2022 third-round pick on his way.</p><p>Being back on the Cardinals can be a good reset for Ridder, as he’ll learn from a former Heisman trophy winner in Murray. Not only that, but he’ll be in an environment where he can grow by putting the work behind the scenes, so it will be interesting to see if he can make the most of his time in Arizona.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Desmond Ridder returns to Cardinals on practice squad after shocking release

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cardinals-news-coach-clayton-tune-vs-desmond-ridder-qb2-battle-reality-check');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cardinals coach hits Clayton Tune vs. Desmond Ridder QB2 battle with reality check');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cardinals-news-Coach-hits-Clayton-Tune-vs.-Desmond-Ridder-battle-with-reality-check.jpg"></figure><h1>Cardinals coach hits Clayton Tune vs. Desmond Ridder QB2 battle with reality check</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-23T06:37:22-07:00">August 23rd, 6:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-23T06:37:22-07:00">August 23rd, 6:37am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-will-kyler-murray-play-preseason-finale-vs-broncos">Arizona Cardinals will not play QB Kyler Murray</a> in the team’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos. Instead, they will have one final <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-jonathan-gannon-request-qb-battle">showdown between Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder</a> for the QB2 spot. Both QBs bring a little something different to the table, so it will be interesting to see who performs better in the final preseason game.</p><p>Clayton Tune boasts some better statistics than Desmond Ridder. He also had a stronger performance at training camp. However, Ridder seems to align better with Kyler Murray’s playing style, which could be an important factor.</p><p>Clayton Tune will start against the Broncos this weekend, followed by Desmond Ridder. That said, the Cardinals coaching staff has made it clear that <a href="https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-still-sorting-important-position-of-qb2" rel="noopener">nothing has been decided already</a>.</p><p>“I know people are going to make a big deal of who starts the game, but I don’t see it that way,” offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said. “Competition at every position is going to come down to final cuts. That’s the reality of training camp. I expect to see those guys play at a high level regardless of who is in there first.”</p><p>This QB battle is something that the Cardinals are taking very seriously. In an ideal world, the backup QB would never play. However, the Cardinals coaching staff is realistic about the fact that players will get injured every season.</p><p>“The reality of the NFL game is that guys get hurt,” Petzing said. “It’s unfortunate but it’s real. The quarterback position had what, 60-plus starters last year? You want everyone on that roster, if they have a jersey, to be ready to go, ready to give us the best chance to win.”</p><h2><b>Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon’s revelation about Kyler Murray should have fans fired up</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kyler-Murray-on-August-17-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Hopefully the Cardinals can simply roll with Kyler Murray in 2024.</p><p>The former first overall pick is expected to have a rebound season after a 2022 ACL tear slowed down his career.</p><p>Jonathan Gannon recently praised Murray’s <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/cardinals-jonathan-gannon-on-kyler-murray-he-s-leaps-and-bounds-ahead-of-last-year" rel="noopener">mental and physical toughness</a> heading into the regular season.</p><p>“I think from a mental and physical standpoint, right now where he’s at, to even when he got back last year or even where he finished last year, I think he’s leaps and bound ahead,” Gannon said on Mad Dog Sports Radio, per NFL.com. “What I know about the guy, my relationship with him when I got his job: His will to win is extremely high. And if you detail out and lay out for him what is needed from him to improve himself, the offense and the team, he is 1,000 percent willing to do that. So, I love the guy, because he’s done everything that I’ve asked of him and more. He’s been a phenomenal leader on and off the field — not just with the offense, but with the entire team.”</p><p>The Cardinals had a rough start to the 2023 season, going 1-8 in their first nine games. Now they will look to get off to a hot start in 2024.</p><p>Arizona opens the regular season with a road game against Buffalo.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cardinals coach hits Clayton Tune vs. Desmond Ridder QB2 battle with reality check

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-gets-brutally-honest-on-why-he-failed-with-falcons');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cardinals’ Desmond Ridder gets brutally honest on why he failed with Falcons');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cardinals-news-Desmond-Ridder-gets-brutally-honest-on-why-he-failed-with-Falcons.jpeg"></figure><h1>Cardinals’ Desmond Ridder gets brutally honest on why he failed with Falcons</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-05T08:07:08-07:00">April 5th, 8:07am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-05T08:07:08-07:00">April 5th, 8:07am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-desmond-ridder-rondale-moore-trade-cardinals-falcons">Arizona Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder has</a> had an interesting career in the NFL so far to say the least as he was traded from the Atlanta Falcons on March 14. In an interview with Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Ridder is candid when talking about his time with the Falcons, his new opportunity with the Cardinals, and what he wants to improve on heading in to the fall.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-trade-falcons-rondale-moore">Ridder was drafted</a> in the third round in the 2022 draft where he saw early game time action when he filled in for starting quarterback Marcus Mariota at the time after the first four games of his rookie season. This past year was filled with more inconsistent play as he split time with Taylor Heinicke as the starter until he was traded away as he expressed the biggest aspect of improvement <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39867450/cardinals-desmond-ridder-clayton-tune-backup-quarterback-kyler-murray" rel="noopener">“is just going out there playing free.”</a></p><p>“One thing I wanna improve is just going out there playing free,” Ridder said. “A lot of the times I felt like I was playing not to mess it up, not to screw it up. And so just to be able to go out there, play free, play loose, play within the system. And then there were a lot of good things that I did on film and then there were some bad things. It just happened to be that those bad things outweighed the good. There was a lot of the games where it was 90 percent good and 10 percent bad, and in those 10 percent, that just happened to be the determining factor of the game.”</p><h2><b>A quote from a former quarterback stuck with Ridder</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Desmond-Ridder-in-his-final-game-with-the-Falcons-during-the-loss-to-the-Saints-on-Jan.-7.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>If there is one phrase that has stuck with Ridder throughout his young career, it’s an interview with former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater who talked about stepping for an injured Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/former-exec-sues-cardinals-owner-after-3-million-win">current Cardinals signal-caller would</a> say that saying stuck with him even before he stepped in the league.</p><p>“He got injured, and I wasn’t prepared and it humbled me,” Bridgewater said, <a href="https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/teddy-bridgewater-will-use-his-brain-not-his-heart-to-decide-where-to-play-next/article_c77aa2b4-42e7-11ea-9524-fb4df0080ca9.html" rel="noopener">according to The Times-Picayune</a>. “It taught me a valuable lesson. We always talk about staying ready, but I wasn’t ready in that moment.”</p><p>“That kind of stuck with me, you know, even before I was in the league,” Ridder said regarding Bridgewater’s outlook. “And that’s just one thing that stuck with me, and I’ll always prepare as if I’m the starter.”</p><h2><b>Ridder hearing criticism from current Falcons coach</b></h2><p>While Ridder gets a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-rumors-cardinals-considered-prime-candidate-trade-out-no-4-pick-2024-nfl-draft">fresh start with the Cardinals in</a> competing for the backup job to Kyler Murray, he is reminded of his time with Atlanta as new head coach Raheem Morris was honest about the quarterback play in the season prior. He would say “If we had better quarterback play, I’m probably not standing here at this podium,” which is “tough” as Ridder put it.</p><p>“Obviously that’s tough,” Ridder said via ESPN. “But as a quarterback and as any team sports player, it’s not all on one person. So, the outside world and whoever it may be, can pin it all on one person, but it’s a team sport. I didn’t play 10 percent of those games very well, but I also wasn’t the only one out there.</p><p>“For me to be able to go out there and just learn from it,” Ridder continued. “Be able to go out there and be better from it, I think that’s what’s gonna help me in the long run in my career and my longevity. So, you can’t really control what other people say, but you can control how you respond and what you go do.”</p><p>The motto of “staying ready” has stuck with Ridder and should be a strong motivation to obtain the backup role and be a reliable <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-best-players-target-2024-nfl-draft-first-round-pick">player for Arizona</a>. One of the aspects he learned is that “all it takes is one play” and in the short time one play takes to initiate, anything can happen, so “you have to be ready.”</p><p>“What you gotta learn is that all it takes is one play,” Ridder said. “Four to six seconds is the average length of a play, and that’s how quick you can become the starter again. So, you have to be ready.”</p><h2><b>Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon “feel really good” about Ridder</b></h2><p>Last year with the Falcons, he threw for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions as he came out of the University of Cincinnati. If there is one person that has Ridder’s support, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-3-round-2024-mock-draft">it’s Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon who</a> also mentions the other quarterback who will be competing to be the backup in Clayton Tune.</p><p>“When you look at our starter, the things that he can do, you’re always looking at, ‘OK, well if the backup goes in, how much do you have to change?'” Gannon said. “And with him and Clayton [Tune], we feel really good about not changing very much because of their skillset. So, that’s cool.”</p><p>While people are most likely ready to write off Ridder, Gannon disagrees as being a backup quarterback is crucial. Especially with the injury history of Murray and the length of the season, “the importance of that position…has gone up the last couple of years.”</p><p>“I mean, all positions are important, but I think especially that one because the guy doesn’t typically get a ton of reps, especially as the season gets rolling on, that position’s important,” Gannon said. “And I think the importance of that position on your roster has gone up, up, up the last couple years here.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/best-cardinals-trade-options-no-4-pick-2024-nfl-draft">The Cardinals are looking</a> to bounce back after a horrid season where they were 4-13 and last in their own division. They look to get back a fully healthy Kyler Murray and a top draft choice in the upcoming draft.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cardinals’ Desmond Ridder gets brutally honest on why he failed with Falcons

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grading-desmond-ridder-rondale-moore-trade-cardinals-falcons');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grading Desmond Ridder, Rondale Moore trade between Cardinals, Falcons');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Grading-Desmond-Ridder-Rondale-Moore-trade-between-Cardinals-Falcons.jpg"></figure><h1>Grading Desmond Ridder, Rondale Moore trade between Cardinals, Falcons</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-03-15T14:45:00-07:00">March 15th, 2:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-03-15T14:53:01-07:00">March 15th, 2:53pm</time><address><a>Shervon Fakhimi</a>Shervon Fakhimi was born and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and is an editorial writer at ClutchPoints. He is a big sports fan who dearly loves the Los Angeles Lakers, Green Bay Packers, and Arkansas Razorbacks.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There have been so many moves in the NFL offseason already that it is easy to lose track of some of the less heralded moves. One of the more fascinating and lowkey moves took place Thursday with a trade. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-trade-falcons-rondale-moore" rel="noopener">Atlanta Falcons traded</a> Desmond Ridder, their starter of 13 games in 2023, to the Arizona Cardinals for slot wide receiver Rondale Moore.</p><p>This move feels a lot like both teams helping each other get rid of the other’s problem. Neither Moore nor Ridder lived up to their draft billing in their respective spots. Moore was taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft after a stellar career at Purdue. But between injuries and poor usage, Moore just has not been the dynamic player he was in college. He’s played just 39 games in three seasons and has only 1,201 yards and three receiving touchdowns to his name.</p><p>The Falcons viewed Ridder as the potential answer at quarterback, but he did not play to that hope. He threw as many touchdowns as interceptions in 2023 with 12 apiece. He got benched multiple times during the season due to poor play and often failed to get the ball to the hands of his playmakers. There’s a big reason why the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-atlanta-steals-kirk-cousins-away-from-vikings-4-year-contract" rel="noopener">Falcons got Kirk Cousins</a>.</p><p>Just because Ridder and Moore failed to live up to the hype they entered the league with doesn’t mean they can’t be successful in new digs. They can both help their new teams. Just how much they can is worth analyzing and grading the trade even further.</p><h2><b>Cardinals Grade: B</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Atlanta-Falcons-quarterback-Desmond-Ridder.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>This grade comes down to cost for the Cardinals. Desmond Ridder showed he can win games in the NFL in a pinch. Last season, among quarterbacks with at least 120 snaps under center, Ridder finished 31st among 49 qualified quarterbacks in EPA plus CPOE composite score. Is that where you want your starter to be? No. But that’s a pretty solid ranking for someone who will be a backup to Kyler Murray, who has had a track record of getting injured, including the torn ACL he suffered at the end of the 2022 season.</p><p>But was it worth dumping a former second-round pick for Ridder? Probably not considering they could’ve just signed a backup quarterback in free agency. Heck, Josh Dobbs, the backup in Arizona to begin last season and who started games for them in the first half of the season, is still a free agent and probably wouldn’t cost much against the salary cap. Dobbs finished five spots behind Ridder in EPA plus CPOE and has familiarity with the system they run there.</p><p>Maybe the Cardinals just had enough of Rondale Moore. Greg Dortch is also another capable slot receiver who has arguably been better than Moore. Ridder is also on his rookie scale contract, so the Cardinals are saving money getting a cheap but capable backup quarterback. It’s a fine trade for the Cardinals to make. It’s just tough to give up on a former second-round pick.</p><h2><b>Falcons Grade: A</b></h2><p>Desmond Ridder quickly became expendable the second Kirk Cousins signed his new contract with Atlanta. That the Falcons outright traded him must mean they have faith in Cousins’ health after tearing his Achilles last season. They’ll need to find a backup, but as mentioned earlier, there are still some options available in free agency. They could also draft one.</p><p>But their electric group of pass catchers just got even more dynamic. Moore was a monster after the catch in college and could do the same out of the slot. He fits perfectly next to Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney and Bijan Robinson.</p><p>The hope here is that the Falcons let him run actual routes. Moore’s <a href="https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/rondale-moore/" rel="noopener">average depth of target</a> in Arizona over his career there was minuscule. It was 3.3 yards, 5.3 yards, and 5.2 yards downfield, sccording to playerprofiler.com. He was basically relegated to screens and dumpoffs like a running back. He is capable of much more than that.</p><p>Atlanta didn’t pay a whole lot to get him and can tap into much more of his skillset than was showcased when Moore was a Cardinal. It was a low-risk, high-reward move. Hopefully, it pays off for them.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grading Desmond Ridder, Rondale Moore trade between Cardinals, Falcons

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cardinals-news-desmond-ridder-trade-falcons-rondale-moore');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cardinals acquiring Desmond Ridder from Falcons in exchange for Rondale Moore');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Arizona-acquiring-Desmond-Ridder-from-Falcons-in-exchange-for-Rondale-Moore.jpg"></figure><h1>Cardinals acquiring Desmond Ridder from Falcons in exchange for Rondale Moore</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-03-14T10:32:55-07:00">March 14th, 10:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-03-14T10:55:05-07:00">March 14th, 10:55am</time><address><a>Andrew Meyers</a>Andrew Meyers is an avid sports fan with a fondness for Philadelphia teams that rarely love him back. He has two degrees from Quinnipiac University, including a master's in sports journalism. Outside of ClutchPoints, Meyers does play-by-play broadcasting for various colleges in the northeast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After acquiring Kirk Cousins the Atlanta Falcons have found a successful <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1768326636531769607" rel="noopener">landing spot</a> for quarterback Desmond Ridder. The Falcons have traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore, per Ian Rapoport.</p><p>Ridder’s time in Atlanta was likely to come to an end once the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-kirk-cousins-4-year-180-million-contract-with-falcons" rel="noopener">Falcons signed Cousins</a> to a four-year contract worth $180 million in free agency. Ridder started 13 games for the Falcons during his sophomore campaign in 2023, posting an 83.4 passer rating with 12 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also added five rushing touchdowns.</p><p>Ridder will probably serve as the backup to Cardinals starter Kyler Murray. He has two years remaining on his rookie deal.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-desmond-ridder-atlanta-taylor-heinicke" rel="noopener">The Falcons selected Ridder</a> in the third round in 2022. He started four games as a rookie before earning the starting job in 2023. Though he was perhaps limited a bit by Arthur Smith’s offense, Ridder was still able to lead Atlanta to a 6-7 record and the team was in playoff contention going into the final game of the season.</p><p>Teams seem to be giving up on quarterbacks quite easily as of late and Ridder’s time with the Falcons is no exception. It is understandable for Atlanta to want an upgrade at the position and perhaps Ridder was never their first choice. He started less than 20 games though and did not get much time to develop in Atlanta’s offense.</p><p>Rondale Moore isn’t a bad pick-up for the Falcons either. They have Drake London lined up as their top receiving option and big things will be expected of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-hilariously-reveals-asking-price-in-kirk-cousins-jersey-number-switch" rel="noopener">tight end Kyle Pitts.</a> Moore had a down year in 2023 after averaging nearly 52 yards per game in 2022.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-darnell-mooneys-3-year-39-million-contract-with-falcons" rel="noopener">Falcons offense is looking for a revival</a> in 2024. Desmond Ridder will not be part of that revival.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cardinals acquiring Desmond Ridder from Falcons in exchange for Rondale Moore

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/falcons-news-taylor-heinicke-injury-update-leaves-door-open-desmond-ridder-week-18');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke injury update leaves door open for Desmond Ridder in Week 18');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Falcons_news_Taylor_Heinicke_injury_update_leaves_door_open_for_Desmond_Ridder_in_Week_18.webp"></figure><h1>Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke injury update leaves door open for Desmond Ridder in Week 18</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-01-01T12:55:07-08:00">January 1st, 12:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-01-01T12:55:07-08:00">January 1st, 12:55pm</time><address><a>Sonny Giuliano</a>Sonny Giuliano has been covering the NFL, College Football, NBA and College Basketball for well over a decade, but he's never claimed to be an expert ... just a sports fan who cares WAY too much. Follow Sonny on Twitter (or X, whatever Elon's calling it) @SonnyCG for his sports and pop culture takes</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It was NFL coaching, broadcasting, and video game <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-pay-tribute-to-john-madden-on-2-year-anniversary-of-his-passing">legend John Madden</a> who has been credited for uttering the oh-so-true prophecy, “If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.” Apparently, at least based on what we’ve seen this season, Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is not a practicing member of the Church of Madden.</p><p>Arthur Smith and the Falcons have been operating a revolving door at quarterback all season, going back and forth between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke with a curious amount of frequency because of injuries, poor play, general indecision on Smith’s part, or whatever the reason may be. Regardless of why Smith seemingly can’t settle on who he wants his starting quarterback to be on a week to week basis, the uninspiring duo of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke has combined to perform as a bottom ten starting quarterback in the NFL. And now, heading into a must-win Week 18 game against the New Orleans Saints, Smith once again has to choose one of his two quarterbacks, only an ankle injury to Heinicke might force his hand.</p><p>“#Falcons coach Arthur Smith says QB Taylor Heinicke, dealing with a left-ankle injury, will do everything he can to play. They hope to know by Friday and will get Desmond Ridder ready, just in case.” (<a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1741890231198966218" rel="noopener">h/t</a> Ian Rapoport of NFL.com) </p><p>Together, Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder have thrown for 3,191 yards, 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions this season, which I’d be willing to guess is probably just as ugly as you imagined it would be. Any where you turn, there is just no good answer for the Falcons. This past weekend against Chicago, Heinicke looked completely overwhelmed. Just a week earlier, Ridder threw <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-qb-desmond-ridder-throws-one-of-worst-interceptions-of-season-vs-panthers">one of the worst interceptions</a> we’ve seen all season in a back-breaking loss to Carolina.</p><p>Even if Atlanta can end their season on a high note with a win over New Orleans, they’d still need Carolina to pull off an upset over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in order to make the Playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke injury update leaves door open for Desmond Ridder in Week 18

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/falcons-news-desmond-ridder-atlanta-taylor-heinicke');   ga('set', 'title', 'Will Desmond Ridder have shot to take back Falcons’ starting job from Taylor Heinicke?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/falcons-news-will-desmond-ridder-have-shot-to-take-back-starting-job-from-taylor-heinicke.webp"></figure><h1>Will Desmond Ridder have shot to take back Falcons’ starting job from Taylor Heinicke?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-12-20T08:58:34-08:00">December 20th, 8:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-12-20T09:32:50-08:00">December 20th, 9:32am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from a small town in Southern California. Mistretta graduated college with a degree in broadcast journalism from Biola University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said the team is <a href="https://twitter.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1737513110582239444" rel="noopener">reportedly planning to start</a> quarterback Taylor Heinicke for the three remaining games in the 2023 season, per Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney. McElhaney <a href="https://twitter.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1737515118643085631" rel="noopener">later provided</a> further information on the Falcons’ quarterback situation.</p><p>“Important to note: The plan after the Falcons Week 11 bye was that Ridder would be the starting QB in Atlanta for the remainder of season. So, even though Smith is saying this about Heinicke with three games left, plans change, and they have in Atlanta before,” McElhaney wrote on X (formerly Twitter).</p><h2><b>Desmond Ridder vs. Taylor Heinicke for Falcons</b></h2><p>Ridder, 24, is considered by many to be the Falcons’ quarterback of the future. The young QB <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-qb-desmond-ridder-throws-one-of-worst-interceptions-of-season-vs-panthers" rel="noopener">has endured struggles in 2023</a>, though. As a result, there are now <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-desmond-ridders-time-atlanta-might-be-over-latest-benching-taylor-heinicke" rel="noopener">concerns about Ridder’s future with Atlanta</a>.</p><p>Ridder has thrown for 2,528 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns in 2023. However, he’s also thrown 10 interceptions and hasn’t been able to develop much consistency for Atlanta.</p><p>Ridder’s upside is exciting. There is no question that he features the ability to become a reliable NFL quarterback. But the results have yet to fully display themselves on the field.</p><p>Heinicke, a veteran who made his NFL debut in 2017, probably isn’t the Falcons’ long-term answer either. He will finish the season as Atlanta’s QB, unless another change is made. Heinicke has shown signs of potential in the past, and perhaps he can make a bid to earn the starting job by finishing the season strong.</p><p>The Falcons’ quarterback situation has a lot of uncertainty at the moment. They would surely prefer for Ridder to be their QB of the future, but his 2023 performance did not leave much room for optimism.</p><p>Atlanta holds a 6-8 record following their 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 15. Heinicke will try to help the Falcons end the season on a high note.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Will Desmond Ridder have shot to take back Falcons’ starting job from Taylor Heinicke?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/falcons-news-desmond-ridders-time-atlanta-might-be-over-latest-benching-taylor-heinicke');   ga('set', 'title', 'Desmond Ridder’s time with Falcons might be over with latest benching for Taylor Heinicke');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Desmond_Ridder_s_time_in_Atlanta_might_be_over_with_latest_benching_for_Taylor_Heinicke.webp"></figure><h1>Desmond Ridder’s time with Falcons might be over with latest benching for Taylor Heinicke</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-12-19T07:08:56-08:00">December 19th, 7:08am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-12-19T07:08:56-08:00">December 19th, 7:08am</time><address><a>Ryan Bologna</a>Ryan Bologna is an author at ClutchPoints. He studied journalism and communication at UConn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons are <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39145964/falcons-turning-back-qb-taylor-heinicke-source-confirms" rel="noopener">making a quarterback change</a> once again, as they are going back to Taylor Heinicke after Desmond Ridder struggled on Sunday in a 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. This is the second time the Falcons have made this move this season, and head coach Arthur Smith spoke about the possibility of making that decision on Monday.</p><p>“That’s usually not a great situation to have,” Arthur Smith said, via Michael Rothstein of ESPN. “You want to be fair and objective and obviously give people an opportunity. It was a belief in him, no matter what happens. It doesn’t mean anybody’s career is over, but we have to do what’s best for this team right now.”</p><p>It looked as if the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-arthur-smith-undecided-desmond-ridder-taylor-heinicke-week-16-starter" rel="noopener">Falcons</a> were going to extend their 7-6 lead late in the game against the Panthers, but Desmond Ridder threw an interception in the red zone. The turnover took away a chance for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-falcons-must-move-on-from-arthur-smith-after-disastrous-loss-to-panthers" rel="noopener">Falcons</a> to extend their lead even by three, which would have required the Panthers to score a touchdown to win. Instead, Carolina drove down and kicked a game-winning field goal to win 9-7 for its second win of the year.</p><p>The loss to the Panthers was not a death blow for the Falcons, but it makes every game from here on out a virtual must-win. They are 6-8, and trail the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. Both teams are 7-7.</p><p>Atlanta finishes with three games against the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and the Saints. The game this weekend against the Colts is at home, while the Bears and Saints games are on the road for Atlanta. It has to start with a win against a Colts team fighting for its life as well. The hope is that Heinicke is able to help the Falcons win those three games and win the NFC South.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Desmond Ridder news

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Ridder news