Cincinnati Football: Desmond Ridder, Sauce Gardner meet on Monday Night Football

After making their NFL preseason debut a week ago, Desmond Ridder and Sauce Gardner are squaring off on Monday Night Football as the New York Jets host the Atlanta Falcons. Follow along for live updates as the preseason coverage continues.

Gardner started at cornerback for the Jets, while Ridder came off the bench after Marcus Mariota started at quarterback for a second straight game. The former Bearcats are both expected to play multiple possessions in the Monday night matchup.

Prior to kick off, Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith explained both quarterbacks would split playing time like they did in the last-second win at Detroit last week. Smith mentioned that Mariota and Ridder would likely have 20-30 snaps each tonight.

The Falcons and Jets should be very familiar with each other after participating in a joint practice last week. Ridder beat his former teammate for a touchdown pass during the scrimmage but Gardner quickly got his revenge with an interception.

Cincinnati Football: Desmond Ridder, Sauce Gardner meet on Monday Night Football

Just over a minute into the game, Gardner picked up his first tackle by forcing Bryan Edwards out of bounds after a first down reception. Gardner didn’t play much in his preseason debut so it’s unclear how much the Jets will call on him tonight.

Mariota led two consecutive scoring drives to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead with 5:16 left in the first quarter. Following that possession, Gardner and several other starters were replaced as the Jets turned their attention to evaluating the back ups.

Ridder checked into the game early in the second quarter and immediately had a positive impact with an 18-yard screen pass on his first snap. Atlanta picked up another big gain on Ridder’s second throw as he found Anthony Firkser wide open.

The rookie quarterback led a nearly perfect first possession, completing 7/7 attempts for 68 yards, but the drive stalled at the one-yard line. Jalen Mayfield’s false start forced the Falcons to settle for a field goal after a 79-yard drive in eight minutes.

Late in the first half, Ridder got called for an intentional grounding due to miscommunication with his receiver but then recovered with a 21-yard gain to Jared Bernhardt to keep the drive alive. The Falcons made another field goal to take a 16-0 lead.

New York finally got on the scoreboard with a 44-yard field goal just before halftime. Ridder was replaced by third string quarterback Felipe Franks after just one second half drive as the two Bearcats were done for the night with Atlanta up 16-10.

Gardner had one tackle and was only targeted once in two possessions before exiting but that’s a good sign because his competitor for the final starting cornerback spot was reportedly down to him and Bryce Hall, who struggled on Monday night.

Ridder finished 10/13 with 143 passing yards and 112 QBR in 26 snaps but will start the regular season as second string. The Jets came back to win 24-16 with 21 unanswered points in the second half as both teams prepare for the preseason finale this weekend.