Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Marcus Mariota has reportedly left the team to have knee surgery with not much indication of when he'll return. It comes after he was benched in place of rookie Desmond Ridder.
The Falcons were on bye last week, before returning to practice on Monday - which Mariota was not present for, after choosing to be away from the team with him getting his knee looked at instead.
It's a curious situation in Atlanta, with his status with the team moving forward uncertain, with head coach Arthur Smith seemingly upset that he will not be around the team.
Mariota had his knee looked at - in which coach Smith said it was a chronic issue while seemingly saying it hasn't affected him too much this season - just days after it was announced that he would be benched for rookie third-round pick Ridder from Cincinnati.
The Falcons were made aware that Mariota was leaving the team on Friday - just 24 hours after Ridder had been named the starter. The NFL quarterback had previously been absent on December 5, when his wife gave birth to their first child.
Head coach Smith said on the situation, according to The Athletic: "The injury is nothing that has been an issue this season, but that’s (Mariota’s) prerogative. Of course, you want all your guys to be here, but guys have to make decisions. It’s part of professional sports. You have to have contingency plans."
When asked how Mariota took the news of him being benched for Ridder, Smith said: "Those (conversations) are never easy. You try to be truthful, whether they agree or not, those are the conversations you have to have."
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport said of the situation: "The intrigue comes as Marcus Mariota not said to be around the team.
"You almost never see this - a veteran player, a quarterback who they would love to have around - he is just not around. I have not seen a situation like this."
Smith had brought Mariota to the Falcons after the two worked together in Tennessee, where he had been offensive coordinator for during Mariota's final season with the Titans.
Mariota has performed admirably, but has not truly impressed as the team's starting quarterback, with them eager to take a look at Ridder after selecting him in the third-round.
Ridder is yet to play in an NFL game after being the back-up to Mariota, but will now be given a four-game sample size to show what he's capable of, before the Falcons make a decision on what to do at the position this off-season, in what looks to be a loaded quarterback draft class.
Mariota has now been put on injury reserve, which will end his season with players being forced to miss four games when being designated with that tag.
