The Indianapolis Colts are benching quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of veteran Joe Flacco, sources told ESPN.
Richardson, 22, was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has struggled this season, however, completing only 44.4% of his passes with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has thrown for 958 yards in six games.
Richardson’s quarterback rating of 38.4 is fourth-worst in the NFL. He also missed two games this year with a hip injury.
Flacco, 39, has started two games for the Colts, who are 1-1 in those contests and 4-4 overall. He also played the last three quarters in a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Richardson suffered the hip injury.
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In four appearances this season, Flacco has completed 65.7% of his passes for 716 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
Richardson has struggled with accuracy in both his professional seasons.
He played in four games last year and completed only 59.5% of his throws. He injured his shoulder and required surgery in October of last year, causing him to miss the rest of his rookie season.
In Indianapolis’ most recent game, a loss to the Houston Texans, Richardson pulled himself out of the game briefly, citing fatigue.
“I was tired,” Richardson said Sunday about why he left for a play. “I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there. I didn’t think I was going to be able to go that next play.”
On Monday, head coach Shane Steichen said he addressed the matter with Richardson.
“We had a conversation about it this morning in the quarterback room, which I’ll keep private,” Steichen said. “But, obviously, in those situations he knows on those type of deals, you can’t take yourself out, and it’s a learned experience for him, and he’s got to grow from it.”
Flacco is in his 17th season in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and has been a backup for most of the last four seasons.
He performed well for the Cleveland Browns last year in the absence of Deshaun Watson, throwing for 13 touchdowns and 1,616 yards in five games. He also started in the Browns’ wild card playoff game against the Texans.
Despite their struggles at the quarterback position, the Colts remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in the AFC. They enter Week 9 only a half-game out of the seventh seed in the conference, and they are second in the AFC South behind Houston.
