On Thursday, the Falcons told quarterback Marcus Mariota he’d be benched. The next day, he left the team.

On Tuesday, his partner had a baby. Which would explain his absence from the team. That same day, however, coach Arthur Smith painted a very different picture to TheAthletic.com, creating the clear impression that Mariota left for reasons unrelated to an impending visit from the stork.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

Regardless, the rookie Ridder takes over this week for the Falcons at QB, and according to the story, the Falcons aren’t quite sure whether Mariota will be back. At all. The story said the team technically can't place him on IR with an injury that doesn't appear to be legit. The story added releasing him could mean he ends up on another team, perhaps a division rival, as the Falcons are trying to make the playoffs.

Falcons said they anticipate placing QB Marcus Mariota on injured reserve, which would end his season.

Related Players: Desmond Ridder

There may have been more than meet's the eye about the team's decision to move over to Ridder during the bye week, but nonetheless, it looks like it will be the rookie's job to keep for the remainder of the season.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed QB Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal.

Related Player: Feleipe Franks

Shortly after trading Matt Ryan, the Falcons add Mariota. The former Raider and Titan rejoins Arthur Smith in Atlanta. The two worked together in Tennessee. As of today, Mariota has little competition at quarterback, but that could change once the NFL Draft starts.

The Raiders placed WR Bryan Edwards and QB Marcus Mariota on the reserve/COVID list Sunday.

The team also activated QB Nathan Peterman and WR Dillon Stoner. Edwards is the third-leading receiver for Vegas. Derek Carr will still have his trusty boys, Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller as they prepare for a huge game against a fellow 7-7 team in Denver.

After running 31 yards on a designed quarterback keep in his only snap of Monday's showdown against the Ravens, Mariota will sit on IR for the next 3 weeks. He will be eligible to return Week 5 against the Bears. Expect Jon Gruden's golden boy, Nathan Peterman, to slide in as David Carr's primary backup.

Marcus Mariota took a designed quarterback run 31 yards on third-and-1 early in the game, but was unable to play for the rest of the contest.

Related players: Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman

While Mariota is Las Vegas’ backup quarterback, Gruden apparently had significant plans for the 2015 No. 2 overall pick saying, “Yeah, we lost a big part of our offense,” Gruden said. “Hopefully it’s not going to linger on.” Peterman is next up on the depth chart.

From NFL Now: It's looking more likely that #Raiders starting QB Derek Carr is back for 2021, while backup QB Marcus Mariota is not. He's been the subject of trade calls.

Derek Carr is currently 4for4's QB17 in John Paulsen's 'never too early rankings'. Six-year veteran Marcus Mariota has garnered some interest from various teams across the league and could find himself a third NFL home in the coming weeks.

Derek Carr (groin) practiced in limited fashion on Tuesday.

Related players: Marcus Mariota

The tweet went on to say both Carr and Mariota got reps and HC Jon Gruden said, "we'll see how it goes this week." Gruden went on to say Carr is "one of the premier competitors in the league ... but we're gonna be smart." Mariota played well in relief of Carr last week and could at least be an option in deeper leagues if he gets the start this week. The Raiders are at home against the Dolphins on Saturday night.

Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals
QB Brett Hundley
WR KeeSean Johnson
S Deionte Thompson
RB Eno Benjamin
OL Joshua Miles
OL Justin Murray
DL Jordan Phillips

Buffalo Bills
QB Jake Fromm
RB T.J. Yeldon
RB Taiwan Jones
OL Cody Ford
DE Harrison Phillips

Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders

Denver Broncos
QB Jeff Driskel
WR Tyrie Cleveland
CB Kevin Toliver II
LB Joseph Jones
G Netane Muti
T Jake Rodgers

Las Vegas Raiders
QB Marcus Mariota
CB Amik Robertson
RB Theo Riddick
DT Maurice Hurst
T Kolton Miller
G John Simpson
DT Daniel Ross

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

Los Angeles Chargers
QB Easton Stick
T Tyree St. Louis
T Storm Norton
DE Jessie Lemonier
DE Joey Bosa

Miami Dolphins
RB Jordan Howard
RB Matt Breida
RB/WR Lynn Bowden Jr.
FB Chandler Cox
T Adam Pankey

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Cincinnati Bengals
PK Austin Seibert
RB Joe Mixon
CB LeShaun Sims
G Keaton Sutherland
OT Bobby Hart
DT Geno Atkins

Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Josh Dobbs
RB Anthony McFarland
CB Mike Hilton
LB Jayrone Elliott
NT Isaiah Buggs

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers
WR Deebo Samuel
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
CB K’Waun Williams
RB Tevin Coleman
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

New Orleans Saints
RB Dwayne Washington
CB Ken Crawley
LB Chase Hansen
G Derrick Kelly
DE Carl Granderson

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

Seattle Seahawks
C Ethan Pocic
RB Chris Carson
RB Carlos Hyde
CB Shaquill Griffin
TE Colby Parkinson
CB Quinton Dunbar
DE Benson Mayowa

Los Angeles Rams
OL Brian Allen
TE Brycen Hopkins
T Tremayne Anchrum Jr.
RB Raymond Calais
WR Trishton Jackson