FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It’s only the exhibition opener, but for Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota, it might as well be Super Bowl LVII.
The Falcons are set to face the Lions at 6 p.m. Friday at Ford Field, and Mariota will take his first steps in an attempt to revive his once-promising NFL career.
Mariota, a Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft, has not started an NFL game since the 2019 season. He’s in line to land the starting position that was vacated with the trade of Matt Ryan to the Colts in March.