FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Marcus Mariota will be placed on injured reserve Wednesday and is expected to have a procedure on his knee scheduled for next week, according to Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.
The Falcons had benched Mariota in favor of rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder during the team's off week last week.
Smith declined to say when they learned of Mariota's knee injury, which Smith said Monday was chronic and not part of the decision to move from Mariota to Ridder -- just that he is going to be having a procedure next week.