The Indianapolis Colts are benching former first-round pick Anthony Richardson.
Joe Flacco will start Sunday's tilt against the Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation.
The news comes a day after head coach Shane Steichen foreshadowed the move by declining to commit to Richardson.
The second-year quarterback and former No. 4 overall pick has been scattershot all season, generating an NFL-worst 44.4 completion percentage in 2024.
Richardson is coming off a game in which he completed 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards and a TD. There were several dropped balls from his wideouts, and it was a better performance than his previous couple of starts, but the accuracy issues continued to stall drives.
Richardson hasn't completed more than 50 percent of his passes in any game this season in which he's attempted more than five tosses and has yet to hit the 220-yard passing mark. There have been flashes from the 2023 first-rounder, including some deep bombs and athletic plays with his legs, but they haven't been nearly consistent enough.
The benching also comes after Richardson admitted to subbing out of the game on Sunday because he was "tired." The honest answer has spawned questions about the QB's dedication. Teammate Ryan Kelly even noted it wasn't "the standard" Richardson needs to play up to. While the offensive production issues are a more significant concern, the tapping out could have played a role in the decision.
Turning to Flacco, who has gone 1-1 as a starter and helped lead a win over Pittsburgh in relief, shouldn't come as a surprise. The offense has been on schedule more with the veteran quarterback. In the Week 5 loss in Jacksonville, Flacco's 359 yards and three TDs were by far the most productive day for the offense in 2024. Last year, we saw that Stechien's offense can move the ball if the QB stays on schedule and makes the correct read.
As he showed in 2023, the 39-year-old Flacco can manage an offense, isn't afraid to stretch the field, and provides a calming presence.
A year ago, Flacco took over in Cleveland and led the Browns to a playoff berth down the stretch, going 4-1 as the starter. The Colts, sitting at 4-4, a half-game out of a wild-card spot, hope turning to the veteran can have a similar payoff.
When Indy drafted Richardson, they knew there'd be growing pains given his minuscule college starting experience. With the playoffs still within reach, the Colts aren't willing to ride through those struggles. Instead, they'll turn to Flacco.
It's a swift turnabout from an organization that has vociferously backed Richardson since making him a top-five pick a year ago. The question is how long he rides the pine and what sort of future he has in Indy if or when he does return to the starting lineup.
