Mariota (knee) agreed to a one-year contract with the Eagles on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The deal will pay Mariota $5 million and could be worth up to $8 million with incentives. With the Eagles, Mariota, who is bouncing back from a knee procedure, will slot in as the backup quarterback behind Pro Bowler Jalen Hurts. In 13 games (all starts) with Atlanta last season, Mariota recorded 2,219 passing yards, to go along with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also logging 438 rushing yards (including four TDs via the ground).
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Marcus Mariota: Released by Atlanta
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The Falcons released Mariota (knee) on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Mariota's release has been expected, and frees up roughly $12 million in cap space for Atlanta. The 29-year-old ended the 2022 season on IR after having been benched for Desmond Ridder, finishing his only campaign as a Falcon with a 15:9 TD:INT through 13 appearances. Once fully recovered from his knee procedure, Mariota will likely draw interest from teams looking for a veteran backup quarterback.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Placed on IR
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The Falcons placed Mariota (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Rookie Desmond Ridder will take over as the starting quarterback, backed up by recent signing Logan Woodside. Mariota, meanwhile, will undergo a procedure on his knee and will be ineligible for the final four weeks of the regular season.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Likely IR-bound due to knee
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Mariota has a knee injury and likely will be placed on injured reserve, according to coach Arthur Smith, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Mariota was benched for rookie Desmond Ridder during Atlanta's Week 14 bye, and while Smith insists Ridder's promotion was performance-based, Mariota's injury may have played a role in that decision. Atlanta recently signed quarterback Logan Woodside, who presumably will back up Ridder for the duration of Mariota's absence, off the Titans' practice squad. Mariota would miss the remainder of the regular season if placed on IR.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Benched for rookie
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Mariota will cede the Falcons' starting quarterback duties to Desmond Ridder following the team's Week 14 bye, with the rookie set to direct the offense in his NFL debut Dec. 18 in New Orleans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Mariota's benching comes with the Falcons having dropped four of their last five games to enter the bye week at 5-8, which puts Atlanta two games behind the Buccaneers in the loss column for the NFC South lead. Under the stewardship of Mariota, the Falcons offense has been a bottom-five unit in yards per game this season, and the veteran signal-caller has turned the ball over 11 times (nine interceptions, two lost fumbles) through 13 contests. Much like Mariota, Ridder presents a threat as a runner, but the Falcons are likely hoping the rookie third-round pick out of Cincinnati can provide enough of an upgrade in the passing game to keep the team alive in the NFC playoff picture over the final four weeks of the regular season.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Throws game-sealing INT
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Mariota completed 13 of 24 passes for 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception during Sunday's 19-16 loss to Pittsburgh. He also rushed three times for 17 yards.
Mariota targeted Drake London, who fished with six receptions on 12 targets for 95 yards, early and often, but Atlanta's passing game struggled once again, though Mariota was able to somewhat salvage his outing by connecting with MyCole Pruitt for a seven-yard score in the third quarter. However, the dual-threat quarterback failed to record at least 20 rushing yards, ending an eight-game streak reaching that plateau. He also threw a game-sealing interception to Minkah Fitzpatrick on the Falcons' final offensive possession. Overall, it was an underwhelming day for Mariota, who's emerged as a viable streaming option due to his production on the ground, but he'll look to get back on track when the Falcons return to action following their Week 14 bye.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Costly pick in loss
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Mariota completed 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 19-13 loss to the Commanders. He added six rushes for 49 yards.
From a fantasy perspective, Mariota performed as expected thanks to work with his legs, as he's now topped 40 rushing yards in five of his last eight games. He also tossed a four-yard touchdown pass on a misdirection play midway through the second quarter. However, Mariota's performance left plenty to be desired, as he averaged only 7.0 yards per attempt and also threw an interception at the Commnanders' goal line with just over a minute remaining in the contest. Despite the uninspiring performance, Mariota is likely to remain Atlanta's starting quarterback so long as the team remains in playoff contention.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Sit 'Em
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Mariota has scored at least 19 Fantasy points in two games in a row and three of his past four outings. But I don't like this matchup for him against the Commanders, especially with Kyle Pitts (knee) now out. Chase Young (knee) could make his 2022 debut this week, and Washington has eight sacks and four interceptions in the past three games against Kirk Cousins, Jalen Hurts and Davis Mills coming into Week 12. Mariota should only be started in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Two scores in win
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Mariota completed 13 of 20 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 27-24 win over the Bears. He also rushed 13 times for 25 yards and an additional score.
Mariota threw a two-yard touchdown to Drake London on the Falcons' first drive of the game and gave Atlanta a 24-17 lead at the end of the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run. The quarterback didn't produce many yards, but he made plays when he needed to, avoided turnovers and found the end zone twice in the high-scoring win. Mariota continues to be a solid steaming option, but his overall production remains limited due to Atlanta's meager passing attack.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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I started the week liking Mariota as a streamer, and he might deliver a quality stat line against the Bears. He's scored at least 21 Fantasy points in three of his past five games, and Chicago has allowed at least 29 Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in two of the past three contests. But my concern with Mariota is the Falcons need a win this week, and their formula for success has been to run, run and run some more. Arthur Smith doesn't want Mariota to make plays unless needed, and Atlanta should have the chance to play with a lead this week as three-point home favorites. For the season, Mariota is averaging 17.1 Fantasy points per game, and I would expect him to be in that range in this matchup. That makes him a low-end starter at best in one-quarterback leagues but not someone who is a must-start option across the board.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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It appears that Mariota will remain the Falcons starter for Week 11 against the Bears. Said coach Arthur Smith on Monday to the Atlanta media, "If we were going to make a change, I'd tell you." It's not a bad idea to stash Desmond Ridder (5 percent rostered) where available in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, but Mariota can be a streamer in one-quarterback leagues for Week 11. He scored at least 21 Fantasy points in three of his past five games. And the Bears have allowed two of their past three opposing quarterbacks to score at least 29 Fantasy points. Mariota is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Solid numbers in Week 10 loss
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Mariota completed 19 of 30 passes for 186 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and rushed three times for 43 yards during the Falcons' 25-15 loss to the Panthers on Thursday night.
Mariota's final numbers were solid overall, although he was under constant duress and was brought down five times. The veteran signal-caller connected with Drake London and KhaDarel Hodge on touchdowns of seven and 25 yards, respectively, but he took two of his sacks on the Falcons' last multi-play drive, snuffing out any hope of a comeback. Mariota's passing yardage total was actually his second highest since Week 3, yet he's now been under 200 yards through the air in six of his last seven games. Mariota and the Falcons return home to take on the Bears in a Week 11 matchup a week from Sunday.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Quiet performance in loss
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Mariota completed 12 of 23 passes for 129 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Falcons' 20-17 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. He also rushed five times for 24 yards.
Mariota put up a typically modest performance through the air and couldn't put together a productive rushing effort. The veteran signal-caller couldn't do much after a successful first two drives that netted 145 yards and 10 points, with Atlanta's next four possessions resulting in three punts and a fumble. Mariota was able to helm one more scoring march in the third quarter that culminated in a Cordarrelle Patterson three-yard touchdown rush, but he ultimately finished with his third sub-130-yard tally through the air in the last four games. Mariota will aim for much better production across the board in a Week 10 road matchup versus the Panthers on Thursday night.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Sleeper QBs
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Let's hope Mariota is forced to throw this week. In two games with at least 25 pass attempts since Week 5, Mariota is averaging 23.5 Fantasy points per game. He's also doing a nice job with his legs in the past four games with at least 31 rushing yards in four games in a row, including one touchdown. Mariota should give you a safe floor since he has scored at least 19 Fantasy points in three of his past four games, including two games with 28 points over that span. It's not an easy matchup this week against the Chargers, who allow an average of just 18.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, but Mariota should provide a safe floor to trust him as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Throws three touchdowns in win
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Mariota completed 20 of 28 passes for 253 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions during Sunday's 37-34 win over the Panthers. He also rushed six times for 43 yards.
Mariota's second pass of the game was intercepted, but he bounced back and submitted an efficient performance through the air en route to a season-high 253 passing yards. The quarterback's dual-threat ability was also on display again as he rushed for at least 30 rushing yards for a fourth straight game, totaling 185 rushing yards during that stretch. Mariota's first touchdown was a well-designed play that left Kyle Pitts wide open for a two-yard score, but his second and third scores were nice throws that turned into big plays with great efforts from Tyler Allgeier and Damiere Byrd. Sunday's performance marked the veteran's best performance of the season, and he'll look to build off his success against the Chargers in Week 9.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Attempts only 13 passes
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Mariota completed eight of his 13 pass attempts for 124 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 35-17 loss to the Bengals. He added six rushes for 31 yards.
Atlanta remained dedicated to the run despite facing a large deficit for nearly the entire game, and Mariota has now attempted fewer than 20 passes in three of his last four games. Nearly all of his production came on a 75-yard touchdown pass to Damiere Byrd just before halftime. In addition to his limited production as a passer, Mariota was also bottled up as a rusher, as he entered the game having tallied at least 50 yards on the ground in consecutive matchups. The Falcons have shown a commitment to rushing the ball regardless of game script this season, which makes it difficult to trust Mariota or any of the team's pass catchers for consistent production.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: QBs to Sit
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Mariota was great in Week 6 against San Francisco with 28 Fantasy points, but that's his lone outing with more than 19 points this season. I like that he ran for at least 50 yards in consecutive games, but he's attempted 26 passes in five games in a row, including a season-low 14 against the 49ers. He might have to throw more this week against the Bengals if the Falcons are chasing points, but Cincinnati has been outstanding against opposing quarterbacks all year. No quarterback has more than 15 Fantasy points against this defense, including Lamar Jackson in Week 5.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Week 7 Waiver Priority List
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Mariota finally had the breakout game we were waiting for in Week 6 against San Francisco with 28 Fantasy points. He only passed for 129 yards, but he had two touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards and a score. He's now run for 121 yards in the past two games against the Buccaneers and 49ers, and he scored 19 Fantasy points at Tampa Bay in Week 5. He has a tough matchup in Week 7 at Cincinnati, but Mariota is starting to feel reliable enough to use as a low-end starter in all leagues, no matter the matchup, especially if he's going to run like this. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: Three touchdowns in win
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Mariota completed 13 of 14 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 28-14 victory versus the 49ers. He also rushed six times for 50 yards and an additional score.
Mariota submitted his cleanest performance of the season as he threw just one incompletion and didn't fumble for the first time during the campaign. It was the second straight contest that Mariota didn't turn the ball over, which may be a sign he's shaken the rust off after not playing regularly since the 2019 season. Mariota was sharp from the start Sunday and completed 13 straight passes to start the game, including a two-yard touchdown to MyCole Pruitt and a seven-yard score to Kyle Pitts. Mariota's dual-threat ability was also on full display as he used his speed to make big plays in the running game and gave the Falcons a 21-14 lead in the second quarter with a three-yard rushing score. This type of performance is exactly what Mariota can bring to Atlanta's offense, but he'll have to prove he can do it consistently. He'll look to maintain his strong play in Week 7 against the Bengals.
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Falcons' Marcus Mariota: QBs to Sit
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Mariota matched his season high in Fantasy points with 19 in Week 5 at Tampa Bay, and he got back to using his legs with 61 yards on the ground. This is the second time this year he's rushed for at least 61 yards, and running the ball more would only enhance his Fantasy value. For this week, we don't know the status of tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring), and rookie receiver Drake London (knee) is also banged up. Without those two receivers, Mariota isn't worth starting in Superflex or two-quarterback leagues. Even with them, Mariota should still struggle against the 49ers, who have allowed a combined 48 Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year.
