Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke, dealing with a left ankle injury sustained during a loss to the Chicago Bears, was limited in practice throughout the week and expressed his determination to play against the New Orleans Saints. Heinicke, who had said the injury did not affect his play until late in the game against the Bears, was hopeful to be mobile enough for the Week 18 game. Despite his efforts, which included testing his ankle on the Superdome field before the game, Heinicke was listed as inactive, making Desmond Ridder the starting quarterback for the regular season finale. Falcons coach Arthur Smith had prepared for this scenario, getting backup quarterback Ridder ready for the game. Logan Woodside was listed as the number two quarterback, with Heinicke as the emergency third option. The decision to start Ridder was confirmed on game day after Heinicke's status was tagged as questionable during the week.
#Falcons vs. #Saints Inactives: Taylor Heinicke OUT, Desmond Ridder to Start - Injury Tracker https://t.co/wRYgv6QizN via @FalconReportFN
Desmond Ridder: Will start Week 18 https://t.co/LuCpb2R78p
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (ankle) INACTIVE vs. Saints; Desmond Ridder to start https://t.co/4BUCOFdsA2 https://t.co/bOUxmDQ3a2
Taylor Heinicke: Listed as emergency QB https://t.co/lcIVvjwzNH
Taylor Heinicke inactive, Desmond Ridder to start for Falcons. https://t.co/ycCAIVYeUy
Falcons’ QB Taylor Heinicke is inactive today, making Desmond Ridder today’s starting QB.
Falcons are starting Desmond Ridder at QB against the Saints, not Taylor Heinicke. Ridder is 1-1 vs. NO with passing lines of 13/21 for 168 yards (1 TD, 2 INT) and 13/26 for 97 yards (0 TD, 0 INT). He's been sacked 4 times while running 13 times for 68 yards.
Taylor Heinicke (ankle) inactive Week 18; Desmond Ridder will start. https://t.co/EqhsUtpNCp
Logan Woodside is the #2 QB Heinicke is the emergency #3 https://t.co/OH7f0Qj7sa
#Falcons at #Saints -- Taylor Heinicke is inactive https://t.co/coGKdnSSwQ
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke is inactive and Desmond Ridder will start for Atlanta.
Taylor Heinicke is INACTIVE Desmond Ridder starts at QB .
Taylor Heinicke is INACTIVE Full list ⬇️
Taylor Heinicke is INACTIVE today. Desmond Ridder will start the regular season finale for the Falcons.
Taylor Heinicke testing his ankle on the Superdome field two hours before game. No word yet on if Heinicke is a go or not. https://t.co/ONUYacI0TY
Taylor Heinicke (ankle) hopeful to play vs. Saints https://t.co/ohugoT5I7d
AJC ePaper: QB CORNER: #Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke on the #Saints https://t.co/utRROkqyH1
Taylor Heinicke: Aiming to play Sunday https://t.co/E2kfWcfOki
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (ankle) is hopeful to play in Sunday's game vs. Saints, per @RapSheet https://t.co/4BUCOFcUKu https://t.co/WK5fgBtaoJ
#Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke, dealing with an ankle sprain, was able to practice every day this week and is hopeful to be able to go today, source said. But he'll be watched closely in warmups to make sure he's mobile enough.
#Falcons’ injury report: Taylor Heinicke is questionable to go against #Saints. Game day decision, according to coach Arthur Smith. https://t.co/03Hs3uN9cn
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (ankle) officially questionable for Sunday's game vs. Saints https://t.co/33Q6IcdFGJ https://t.co/0fQwTTsbMQ
Taylor Heinicke questionable for Sunday's game vs. Saints. https://t.co/Gj1mXh6O04
Taylor Heinicke (ankle) questionable for Week 18 https://t.co/9Sj0Kldy0m
Taylor Heinicke (ankle) will be questionable Week 18. https://t.co/RuoASzyJ26
Taylor Heinicke: Gets questionable tag for Week 18 https://t.co/z0YtfVol2l
Taylor Heinicke is questionable for Sunday's game. The Falcons will work him out the day of the game before making a final determination.
QB corner: #Falcons’ Taylor Heinicke discusses the Saints https://t.co/KNvGeO5nMD
#Falcons’ injury report: Taylor Heinicke, three others limited https://t.co/A0Gtan9HgS
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (ankle) was limited in practice for a second day in a row https://t.co/k6DDdJPkZG https://t.co/2JuzL0ckeu
#Falcons preparing Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder to face #Saints https://t.co/WNzFxNfEt1
Taylor Heinicke will test ankle throughout the week in Atlanta. https://t.co/VmY9JId7KN
WATCH: #Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke talks about his injured ankle https://t.co/2nDXqKxIAI
#Falcons injury report: Taylor Heinicke to be limited at practice Wednesday. https://t.co/oLd03Fc58Z
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (ankle) will be limited in Wednesday's practice, per HC Arthur Smith https://t.co/PRh4XTHuuG https://t.co/YLGoWiCoY4
#Falcons coach Arthur Smith said QB Taylor Heinicke (left ankle) will be limited today. C Drew Dalman (ankle) will not practice. S DeMarcco Hellams and CB Mike Hughes are in the concussion protocol.
Taylor Heinicke will do "everything he can" to play through ankle injury this week. https://t.co/oAgQnkgMcw
Taylor Heinicke: Could miss Week 18 with ankle issue https://t.co/kmdCrlpzIn
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (left ankle) will do everything he can to play in Week 18; QB Desmond Ridder will be ready if needed, per HC Arthur Smith https://t.co/R4bhdHU5vv https://t.co/gkUYP3BPiE
#Falcons coach Arthur Smith says QB Taylor Heinicke, dealing with a left-ankle injury, will do everything he can to play. They hope to know by Friday and will get Desmond Ridder ready, just in case.
#Falcons coach Arthur Smith hopes to know by Friday if Taylor Heinicke (left ankle) can play vs. the #Saints. They will get Heinicke and Ridder ready for the game.
Arthur Smith said Taylor Heinicke is going to do "everything he can" to play Sunday, they'll have to monitor his ankle injury throughout the week, though.
#Falcons’ Taylor Heinicke: ‘They just beat our (behind)’ https://t.co/VQ19mxw8eE
#Falcons’ Taylor Heinicke couldn’t get the offense moving vs. #Bears https://t.co/yPFJACzGTt
Watch: #Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke on loss to #Bears https://t.co/Pz3C4UgyWR
#Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke: “When you turn the ball over, it’s hard to win.” https://t.co/8WteQ6F30G
Taylor Heinicke on his ankle injury: "We will see how it feels tomorrow and go from there. I don’t think it affected me. I have to play better. ... I didn't really feel it at all until late in the game."