Falcons' Arthur Smith on quarterback situation: 'There is no situation'

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith will let everyone know if and when he decides to bench quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

"If we were going to make a change, I’d tell you," Smith said about the situation on Monday, per comments shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "You’d see it at practice." 

Smith's mood didn't improve when he was asked about the club's quarterback "situation" ahead of this Sunday's game between the 4-6 Falcons and 3-7 Chicago Bears. 

"There is no situation," Smith insisted. "There was never a situation — ever. I don’t know where that — and I mean, you understand why the questions get asked, lose two games in five days and everybody wants to panic." 

Free-agent cornerback Richard Sherman and commentator Kirk Herbstreit were among those who criticized Mariota's play during this past Thursday's 25-15 loss at the Carolina Panthers. Smith wouldn't say at that time if he was considering starting rookie third-round draft pick Desmond Ridder against Chicago but reminded everybody Monday his team trails the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South standings by only a single game. 

"We’re right in the middle of it," Smith said about the team's postseason chances. "Not where we want to be, but the reality is you’re right in the middle of a playoff race with a conference opponent coming in here for a game we need to win." 

The Buccaneers are on their bye after they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-16 in Germany on Sunday. Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 21-15 back in Week 5. 

According to ESPN stats, Mariota began Monday 14th among eligible quarterbacks with an 89.9 passer rating, ninth with a 59.1 total QBR, and 22nd with 1,747 passing yards on the campaign. In 10 games, he has 12 touchdown passes and seven interceptions to go along with 347 rushing yards and three additional scores.