This means that Ridder will become part of the free agent class in a few weeks. Originally drafted in the third round by the Falcons, Ridder was traded to Arizona after the team signed Kirk Cousins. He failed to earn the backup gig over Clayton Tune and was cut by Arizona and re-signed to their practice squad. The Raiders eventually picked him up after Aidan O’Connell went down with an injury. Ridder made one start and appeared in a handful of other games. He threw for 458 yards at 5.4 yards per attempt with two touchdowns and as many interceptions in 2024. No matter where Ridder lands in free agency, he will be fighting for a roster spot during the summer.

The Raiders completely struggled to move the football against the Falcons for more than three quarters, managing a lone field goal until their penultimate drive. Even so, inadequate play calling and poor efficiency from the Falcons allowed the Raiders a chance at the win late in the fourth quarter, eventually finding themselves inside the 50 with 10 seconds remaining. It was enough time for two Hail Mary attempts from Ridder, the first of which went untouched as it fell harmlessly to the ground in the back of the end zone and the second resulting in Ridder’s second interception as time expired. Aidan O’Connell appeared to be close to starting in Week 15 despite not practicing all week, making him likely to take back over under center when the Raiders host the Jaguars in Week 16.

Ridder was named as the Week 15 starter by Antonio Pierce last week, but that was before we knew Aidan O’Connell (knee) would try to play through the injury he suffered in Week 14. According to Schefter, O’Connell, who is questionable, will try to test things out in pregame warmups, but Ridder “is expected to start for now.” Assuming he gets the nod, Ridder will have a chance to face off against his former team who selected him No. 74 overall just three years ago. We’ve seen enough of Ridder to know he shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy leagues and should be kept off the radar altogether outside of 2QB/Superflex leagues.

Pierce’s commitment to the bit is notable, but after they aircasted O’Connell and carted him off in Week 14, we’re quite comfortable in saying that Ridder will helm a #RevengeGame against the Falcons. (Can it be a #RevengeGame if you barely earned the right to start in the first place? We’re looking into this.) A Ridder takeover, something that could possibly last the final four weeks of the season, would probably relegate Jakobi Meyers to fantasy benches and leave Brock Bowers as the only Raiders tight end or receiver worth starting.