Marcus Mariota has disappeared.
It started this past week when the Atlanta Falcons decided to name quarterback Desmond Ridder as their starter heading into Week 15 and benching their veteran QB.
Mariota is not only away from the team right now, he might not show back up. Mariota has left the team with no indication of “when or if” he will return, according to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall.
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith addressed Mariota’s absence.
“(The knee) is nothing that has been an issue this season, but that’s (Mariota’s) prerogative so … Of course, you want all your guys to be here, but guys have to make decisions. It’s part of professional sports,” Smith said, per team insider Jeff Schultz.
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According to The Athletic, Smith informed Mariota that Ridder would be starting at quarterback on Thursday morning. Friday, the Falcons learned that Mariota planned to step away from the team.
“Those [conversations] are never easy,” Smith said. “You try to be truthful, whether they agree or not, those are the conversations you have to have.”
Mariota joined the Falcons this offseason on a two-year, $18.75 million deal after Atlanta traded Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts.
This year, he led the team to a 5-8 record while ranking in the bottom half of the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns and competition percentage. He also has nine interceptions which are tied for seventh-highest in the NFL.
Now, the team has an opportunity to see what it has in Ridder before the end of the season.
