Raiders starting QB Desmond Ridder vs. Falcons

Quarterback Desmond Ridder will make his first start for the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons.

Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is inactive with a bone bruise in his left knee. He had been listed as questionable.

The Falcons (6-7) drafted Ridder in the third round, No. 74 overall, in 2022 out of Cincinnati. After 19 games over two seasons with Atlanta and an 8-9 record as the Falcons’ starter, Ridder was released on August 27. The move came after the Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to a four-year contract in free agency and drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Raiders signed Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on October 22. He has passed for 239 yards and a touchdown in limited action for the team.

O’Connell was injured late in the third quarter of the Raiders’ 28-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. Making his second start since returning from injured reserve due to a broken thumb, he has thrown for 899 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in six games, completing 63.2% of his passes.

The Falcons, who have lost four straight, must win Monday night to stay one game behind the Buccaneers (8-6) in the NFC South. The Raiders (2-11) have lost nine straight games, their longest losing streak of the season since going 0-10 to open 2014.

ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.