Anthony Richardson has been benched by the Indianapolis Colts, with Joe Flacco taking over as the starting quarterback for Sunday’s primetime showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Colts are 4-4 and remain in the race for a playoff berth, but second-year QB Richardson has been deeply unconvincing with his play. Richardson has just a 44.4 per cent completion percentage through six starts this season, ranking worst in the NFL.
His 159.7 yards per game rank in the bottom third of quarterbacks, too, and he has thrown just four touchdowns against seven interceptions. His poor performances have prompted head coach Shane Steichen to make a dramatic change, promoting one-time Super Bowl champion Flacco to the starting lineup.
Mike Tomlin does his best The Office impression as Russell Wilson decision pays dividends
Tom Brady ‘given heads-up’ about Gisele Bundchen pregnancy before reports emerged
Flacco has appeared in four games so far this season, throwing seven touchdowns and just one pick. The former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns signal-caller led the Colts to wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans before Richardson returned to the lineup after an oblique injury.
Richardson did not help his cause in Sunday’s defeat to the Houston Texans, taking himself out of the game with his offense in the redzone. His coaches feared another injury, but the 2023 No. 4 overall pick said it was down to feeling tired.
Tired, I aint gonna lie, he admitted. That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I didnt think I was gonna be able to go that next play. So, I just told [Steichen] I needed a break right there.
The admission was roundly criticized by former players, including Colts legend Pat McAfee. He posted on 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.
Steichen admitted on Monday that the team was “evaluating everything” when asked if Richardson could be benched. And he has acted decisively, leaning on Flacco’s superior accuracy and poise in the pocket.
Richardson is perhaps the most dynamic quarterback in the league when it comes to running prowess and sheer athleticism, but the former Florida prospect has shown he lacks the polish at this stage of his young career to be a reliable NFL starter.
A stint out of the firing line could serve Richardson well. He has all the measurables to be a successful quarterback in the modern NFL, with size, speed and a huge arm, but his mechanics and understanding of the game need refining.
Leave a Reply