The Colts have put Anthony Richardson on ice, with no signs of defrosting him anytime soon.
Head coach Shane Steichen officially named 39-year-old Joe Flacco the starting quarterback going forward, telling reporters on Wednesday, ‘Joe gives us the best chance to win.’
The move officially relegates Richardson to the backup spot, and may eliminate any quarterback controversy moving forward for an Indianapolis team attempting to make a playoff push.
Steichen noted that it was his decision to make the move, not team owner Jim Irsay.
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The move marks a significant shift in philosophy from the Colts coach. After drafting Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Steichen said that on-field experience was necessary for a player’s development.
‘I think the development of players comes with more experience,’ Steichen said at the time. ‘When you play more, that’s when you develop.’
Moving Richardson to the bench ensures that there won’t be game reps available to the 22-year-old – barring injury to Flacco – but his coach doesn’t seem to think that’ll be an issue anymore.
“I know I said that and things change there,’ Steichen said. ‘So, I think right now, sitting back and seeing a veteran that’s done it at a high level for a long time, you can develop that way as well.”
While there is no textbook method to develop a player, it remains to be seen what Richardson would have to do to earn the starting job again. More importantly, it’s anyone’s guess whether he starts again for Indianapolis.
“I can’t predict that, but I’m not losing faith in that,’ Steichen said when asked about Richardson potentially starting again. ‘I promise you that.”
Steichen, however, wouldn’t commit to saying if the team planned to re-insert the young signal caller in the starting job at some point.
“I can’t predict the future, but, I mean, that would be great. We’ll see.”
It’s been a tough sophomore season for Richardson. After missing most of the 2023 season due to injury, Richardson has been plagued in 2024 by poor play, another injury and now bad optics. In Week 8, the 22-year-old took himself out of the game because he was tired. While it likely didn’t make a difference in what became a loss to the Houston Texans, everyone has been quick to jump on Richardson in the aftermath.
As outrage dominated headlines on Monday, head coach Shane Steichen fanned the flames by not committing to Richardson as the starter, saying ‘we’re evaluating everything,’ before officially benching the passer on Tuesday.
Solely considering Richardson’s quality of play, the benching isn’t all that surprising. He’s started six games in 2024 and owns a 3-3 record. He has completed 59 of 133 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.