May 18, 2024
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Marcus Mariota is feeling — and playing — like a starter again.
After leading Atlanta to scores on two of his three drives in the Falcons' 24-16 loss against mostly New York Jets backups Monday night, Mariota appears to have strengthened his hold on the quarterback job.
“The last couple years were a good reset for me, but I’m excited about the opportunity, excited about this team,” said Mariota, who was a backup the last two years in Las Vegas and hasn’t started a regular-season game since 2019 with Tennessee.
Mariota was 6 of 10 for 132 yards and a touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus before giving way to rookie Desmond Ridder with a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.
“I’m pleased with Marcus," Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “Looked like he got into a good rhythm.”
Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati, wasn't too shabby, either, going 10 of 13 for 143 yards and leading the Falcons to two field goals during his three series that were marred by penalties.
"He’s young, spunky and he’s showing flashes out here today,” said tight end Kyle Pitts, one of only a few projected Falcons starters who played.
Pitts made his presence felt quickly with a 52-yard reception on Atlanta's second play from scrimmage. He got wide open on Bryce Hall, who's competing with rookie Sauce Gardner for a starting job at cornerback, to put the Falcons at the Jets 9.
“Well, you know, it makes it easy when you’ve got a guy like Kyle," Mariota said. "But yeah, we felt good about the player, felt good about the look and hats off to Kyle for executing it.”
The drive stalled, though, and the Falcons had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo. But Mariota led Atlanta into the end zone on the next possession. He hit a wide-open Anthony Firkser for a 39-yard gain to get to the Jets 14, and then found Zaccheaus for a 13-yard TD two plays later.
The Jets sat most of their projected starters, including quarterback Joe Flacco — who took over as New York’s QB1 in place of the injured Zach Wilson. Coach Robert Saleh said after the game the Jets will treat this week as a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season and the starters are expected to play Sunday against the Giants.
Wilson is out a few weeks as he recovers from a bone bruise and surgically repaired torn meniscus in his right knee, with his availability for the season opener against Baltimore on Sept. 11 uncertain. It would be Flacco under center if Wilson can't go, but Mike White got the start against the Falcons and was mostly ineffective with the backups.
White went 12 of 17 for 90 yards, and the offense punted on each of his first four series before Greg Zuerlein's 44-yard field goal ended the first half with the Jets trailing 16-3.
"It was one of those preseason games where you couldn’t get into a rhythm,” White said.
