Raiders replace Gardner Minshew for former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder

The Las Vegas Raiders are turning to a former Atlanta Falcons quarterback for a spark.

Trailing by 21 points in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the Raiders replaced veteran signal caller Gardner Minshew with former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Ridder was in just his second game with the Raiders. Las Vegas signed him to its active roster from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on October 21st.

In his first series with the Raiders, Ridder went 1 for 3 with 1 pass yard.

Ridder has been in an NFL whirlwind since the Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​in free agency. Just days after this incident, the Falcons traded Ridder to the Cardinals.

He didn't make Arizona's 53-man roster after the preseason. But after the Cardinals released him on roster cut day, Ridder signed with the Arizona practice squad.

Ridder was on the Cardinals' practice squad until the Raiders signed him to their active roster in mid-October.

When Ridder entered the game on November 3, he made his first NFL regular season appearance since Week 18 of last season. Ridder started for the Falcons in that game and completed 22 of 30 yards with 291 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. But he also had an interception and lost a fumble in a 48-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

It will be interesting to see if the Ridder move is permanent for the Raiders. Las Vegas shuffled Minshew and Aidan O'Connell behind center in the first half of the season. Unless Ridder makes an incredible comeback on Sunday afternoon, the Raiders will fall to 2-7 with a loss to the Bengals.

In eight games, including seven starts, Minshew has thrown just 6 touchdowns with 8 interceptions this season.

The Falcons drafted Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft at No. 74 overall. In two seasons with the Falcons, Ridder completed 64% of his passes for 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He averaged 7 yards per pass attempt and recorded 5 game-winning drives and 3 fourth quarter comebacks in 19 games.