Falcons head coach Arthur Smith named Taylor Heinicke the Week 9 starting quarterback…
Flory Branch, Georgia: Taylor Heinicke finds solace in an awkward situation because he has experienced this before. countless times.
Heinicke was formally named the starting quarterback for Week 9 by Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith on Wednesday. Due to this decision, Desmond Ridder will start as the backup quarterback on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (1 p.m., FOX) when the Minnesota Vikings visit. Heinicke’s first start of 2023 comes with this.
“It feels right,” Heinicke remarked. “I’m thrilled about the opportunity, but it’s definitely different from other times.”
Heinicke has been a backup in the NFL since joining in 2015.
As an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion, Heinicke was actually signed by the Vikings before any other team. But it wasn’t until 2017 that he saw the field with the Houston Texans.
Heinicke made just one game appearance—taking nine offensive snaps in a Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers—after initially signing with the Texans practice squad. In his debut, Heinicke carried the ball once for two yards and completed his one pass attempt for ten yards. He lost sixteen yards after one sack. At quarterback, the Texans had Deshaun Watson, T.J. Yates, and Tom Savage. Yates, who is currently the wide receivers coach for the Falcons, started the game that Heinicke participated in.
After that, Heinicke backed up starting quarterback Cam Newton for the Carolina Panthers during the 2018 season. Heinicke played in six games, including a Week 16 loss to the Falcons where he earned his first career start. The bulk of Heinicke’s stat line for that season was made up of the 33-of-53 completed passes for 274 yards, three interceptions, and one touchdown from that game: 35-of-57 for 320 yards, three interceptions, and one touchdown.
After that, he set out once more, signing with the Washington Commanders, where he spent three years and started twenty-six of the twenty-six games he participated in. His greatest chance arrived in 2021 when he took over as the starting quarterback following Ryan Fitzpatrick’s injury in the season opener. As the starting quarterback, Heinicke finished with a 7–8 record, completing 321 of 494 passes (65%) for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
On March 13 of this year, Heinicke became available for free agency; the Falcons signed him the following day. Heinicke, however, was aware from the start that Ridder was going to start in Atlanta. Up until now, that was accurate.
Heinicke stated, “The most important thing is to just prepare like you’re starting.” “I recall that I never saw a field during my first four or five years. I was the guy who was kind of the backup. Game day, I didn’t even wear anything. However, you can practice being a starter by getting ready as one would. Then you’ll know how to get ready when the time comes. That has previously benefited me.”
The Falcons 2023 season saw Ridder start the first eight games. He completed 157 of his 240 passes (65.4%) for 1,701 yards. Six touchdowns and six interceptions were thrown by him.
However, Heinicke was used once more during the Tennessee Titans’ Week 8 loss last Sunday. After the game, Smith decided to play Heinicke with Ridder even though he had been cleared for a concussion at halftime. Heinicke completed 12 of his 21 passes (57.1%) for 175 yards and a touchdown in those two quarters.
Heinicke felt he performed well, and considering his increased role, that experience is now “huge.”
Heinicke stated, “I got to nail some timing with Van (Jefferson), Red (KhaDarel Hodge), Drake (London), and Kyle (Pitts).” “I also felt like I was playing the game again. Practice, of course, is one thing. Live game reps, however, are unreplicable. Taking a quick look at the water last week was enjoyable.
Smith stated that “a lot of variables” went into the choice to start Heinicke in Week 9. When questioned for more information, the head coach would not say anything more.
Additionally, there is still uncertainty surrounding Atlanta’s quarterback position’s future. During his press conference on Wednesday, Smith stated unequivocally that this will be decided in Week 9. As the season goes on, he and the other Falcons coaching staff members will keep an eye on the quarterback position.
Heinicke remarked, “I try to be as present as I can.” “This week, my main objective is to go out there and play excellent football. Make an effort to win this. Anything that occurs in the future does occur. I’ll take care of it then. My attention is currently on the Vikings.”
