The Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback carousel is turning back to Anthony Richardson.
Two weeks after Shane Steichen told reporters that Joe Flacco would serve as the team’s starting quarterback “going forward,” the head coach reversed course on Wednesday. Steichen tabbed Richardson to be under center against the New York Jets on Sunday and for the remainder of the season.
Steichen said that while he talked to owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard, ultimately it was his decision to return Richardson to the starting role.
“We made it very clear to him that he’s our starting quarterback going forward,” the coach said.
Richardson said he learned a lot over the past two weeks.
“As a competitor, you never want to be on the sideline. You feel like there’s an opportunity for you to go out and help the team.” he said. “Just sitting on the sideline allowed me to see certain things that I could correct about myself, certain things that the team needed help with. I’m just forever grateful for the opportunity.”
Steichen also said he was pleased with what he has seen from Richardson.
“I’ve said ‘the process, the process’ for a long time, and what I mean by that is the attention to detail in everything he does,” Steichen said. “From the classroom to the walkthroughs to practice to the weight room. All those little things. It’s just got to be a higher standard. … Over the last two weeks, he’s made strides in those areas.”
With Flacco at the controls, the Colts (4-6) saw their losing skid extend to three games following setbacks to the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. The 39-year-old committed six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles) in the past two contests.
Flacco was inserted into the starting lineup one week after Richardson completed only 10 of 32 passes (31.3 percent) for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 27.
During the third quarter of that game, Richardson made the unusual move of taking himself out of the game in the middle of a Colts drive. The 22-year-old later explained that he needed a breather after scrambling on several plays.
Richardson, who missed Weeks 5 and 6 with an oblique injury, has completed only 44.4 percent of his passes for 958 yards with four TDs and seven interceptions in six games this season.
Drafted No. 4 overall in 2023 out of Florida, Richardson’s rookie season ended after just four games due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Flacco has completed 66.5 percent of his passes this season for 1,167 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
Flacco is 104-85 as an NFL starter with the Baltimore Ravens (2008-18), Denver Broncos (2019), New York Jets (2020-22), Cleveland Browns (2023) and Colts. He has thrown for 45,103 yards with 254 TDs and 160 INTs. He was the MVP of Baltimore’s 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
–Field Level Media
