The Indianapolis Colts are benching 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson, according to multiple reports.
Richardson, whom the Colts drafted with the fourth overall pick one year ago, had been struggling as an NFL starting quarterback through a limited sample size of 10 career starts. What’s more, the 22-year-old came under fire after Indy’s Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans when he told members of the media he took himself out of the game in the third quarter because he was tired.
“Tired, I ain’t going to lie,” Richardson said. “That was a lot of running right there, and I didn’t think I was going to go that next play. I needed a break right there.”
Indianapolis is 4-4 and sits in second place in the AFC South. The Colts will turn to backup quarterback Joe Flacco as they enter a contest with the Minnesota Vikings on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 9.
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Flacco is 1-1 as a starter this year and helped his team win a Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after Richardson exited with an injury.
Anthony Richardson: ‘Tired’
Ahead of a big, third-and-goal situation in the third quarter, Richardson briefly exited the game after taking a sack on second down. However, the 2023 first-round pick did not require medical attention and returned to the game for the next Colts drive.
When reporters asked why he departed, the second-year quarterback said, ‘Man, tired. I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I don’t think I was gonna be able to do that next play. I needed a break right there.’
Following those comments, Colts head coach Shane Steichen did not commit to starting Richardson in Week 9 against the Vikings.
‘We’re evaluating everything,’ Steichen said.
He also said that he and Richardson had a private conversation in the quarterback room and chalked the situation up to being a ‘learning experience’ for the young quarterback.
NFL world reacts to Richardson’s comments
Richardson’s response sent waves through the NFL world. Several players and analysts shared their thoughts on the young quarterback’s candor and controversial self-removal from the game.
‘We had a conversation about it, and I think he knows it’s not the standard that he needs to play up to and the rest of the team holds him to,’ Colts center Ryan Kelly said. ‘I’m sure he’s going to take some criticism for that – rightfully so, right?’
Former Colts punter and current sports analyst Pat McAfee shared his thoughts on social media website X: ‘I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson. The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential.’
Former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly criticized Richardson’s excuse, pointing out fellow former Panther Cam Newton’s ability to scramble and continue to play afterward.
Anthony Richardson stats
Through eight weeks in 2024, Richardson has started six games. In those starts, he held a 3-3 record and was 59 of 133 on pass attempts (44.4% completion rate, lowest in the NFL) with 958 passing yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Richardson also has 41 rush attempts for 242 yards and a rushing touchdown this year.
In his last start, against the Texans in Week 8, the second-year gunslinger was 10 of 32 (31.3%, the worst completion rate of his career) for 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception.