FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The last time Taylor Heinicke found out he was going to become the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, it came in a text message he saw when he woke up. This time around, it was a little more conventional.
It came during a Monday afternoon phone call.
Heinicke replaced Desmond Ridder for two games before the team's November bye. When coach Arthur Smith went back to Ridder, he said it was for the rest of the season. But Wednesday he named Heinicke the starter the rest of the way and gave the same reason multiple times.