FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons are set to start Taylor Heinicke at quarterback in their upcoming game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to reports from ESPN.com. However, Falcons coach Arthur Smith has expressed his reluctance in making the quarterback situation a weekly topic of conversation, emphasizing the team's commitment to avoiding a "musical chairs" scenario.

Coach Smith stated during a press conference on Wednesday, "We're not going to play musical chairs. Hopefully we can go get this win. Take a second to really evaluate as we make that sprint towards the end of the season. That's the best I can give you right now."

Smith further revealed that he and his coaching staff will thoroughly assess Heinicke's performance compared to Desmond Ridder's contributions over the first eight weeks of the season before making any long-term decisions. With a bye week approaching in Week 11, the Falcons have ample time to evaluate their quarterback situation.

Desmond Ridder, who completed 65.4% of his passes for 1,701 yards, 6 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and 6 fumbles lost, was replaced by Heinicke during halftime in a game against the Tennessee Titans. Ridder underwent evaluation for a potential concussion, although he was eventually cleared to play.

Last week, the Falcons opted to start Heinicke against the Minnesota Vikings, explicitly stating that it was a decision for that specific week, with further assessment to follow. Coach Smith and offensive coordinator Dave Ragone cited multiple factors contributing to the choice of Heinicke as the starter.

Ridder acknowledged his need to improve ball security, with seven turnovers in 2½ games, including four in the red zone. While he did not indicate when he might reclaim the starting role, he acknowledged the opportunity to work on mitigating his turnovers.

Heinicke, in his six quarters of play, has completed 55.9% of his passes for 443 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. The Falcons have managed to score 48 points during the six quarters Heinicke has played, including a season-high 28 points versus the Vikings last Sunday.

Coach Smith mentioned that this year's quarterback situation differs from last season. The team made a change from Marcus Mariota to Ridder during the bye week in December. Similarly, after the game against the Cardinals, the Falcons will once again assess the quarterback position during their upcoming off week.

"There are so many things that go into it," said Smith. "It's not all on the quarterback, and sometimes it's the matchups, it's the way things are trending. But I think in the end, it'll all work itself out the way it should."

The Atlanta Falcons remain focused on stability at the quarterback position as they prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals with Taylor Heinicke under center. The team's careful evaluation and decision-making process will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping their quarterback strategy for the remainder of the season.