The Atlanta Falcons may see a familiar face on the other side of the ball when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders in a Week 15 showdown currently scheduled for Monday Night Football on December 16.

Desmond Ridder, drafted by the Falcons in the third round in 2022 and starting 17 games during his two-year tenure, has a chance to become the Raiders’ starting quarterback after incumbent first-teamer Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone on Sunday 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Minshew left the game with less than three minutes to play and Ridder took his place. Trailing 26-19, the Raiders had a chance to tie the game when Ridder entered. Two plays later, Ridder was sacked and the Broncos eventually extended their lead to two scores.

Ridder finished his performance 5 of 10 passing for 64 yards while picking up two sacks. He earned a 3.8 quarterback rating and told reporters after the game that he will be ready if he is called upon. His last bout of extended action came on November 3, when he went 11 for 16 for 74 yards and one touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Las Vegas will likely choose between Knight and Aidan O’Connell for the starting job.

The 24-year-old Knight struggled in 13 starts last season in Atlanta, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

He started the first eight games before entering the concussion protocol at halftime of Week 8 and losing his job as Taylor Heinicke’s backup for two weeks.

Ridder returned to his starting role after the Week 11 bye, but he lasted just four starts before being benched again, this time after a backbreaking fourth-quarter interception in a 9–7 road loss to then-one-win Carolina Panthers.

Heinicke started the next two games, but missed the season finale with an ankle injury, returning Ridder to the starting lineup. Atlanta did not score in the second half en route to a 48–17 loss, and then-head coach Arthur Smith lost his job later that night.

The Falcons lost Ridder’s last three starts, and owner Arthur Blank called his team’s quarterback play “flawed” the day after firing Smith.

Ridder was shipped to the Arizona Cardinals shortly after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins ​​as a free agent. In exchange for Ridder, the Falcons acquired receiver Rondale Moore, who suffered a knee injury on August 7 during joint practices with the Miami Dolphins.

Knight was cut by the Cardinals during final roster cuts on August 27 and spent just under two months on the practice squad before being claimed by the Raiders.

Now, Ridder may be at the helm of the 2-9 Raiders ship for the remainder of the season, including a possible prime time matchup against his former team.