The Las Vegas Raiders are making a change at quarterback, 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 O'Connell was deemed a longshot to play for the Raiders in Week 15. Now, the news is official, and it will give Ridder his first start since the 2023 season.

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.

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.

Desmond Ridder has a bright opportunity for the Raiders

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After a sour ending to his time in Atlanta, the former Cincinnati football quarterback has bounced everywhere. For instance, Ridder was suddenly released by the Arizona Cardinals, 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.

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.

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 might be interested in playing for a draft pick. 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.

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.