Indianapolis Colts veteran Joe Flacco will serve as the team’s starting quarterback “going forward,” head coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday.
Steichen noted that it’s not just a one-week switch from former first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson to the 39-year-old Flacco.
The Colts (4-4) had won four of their previous five games before dropping a 23-20 decision to the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (6-2) on Sunday.
“I’m just looking where we’re at as a football team, sitting at .500 with a lot of football left,” Steichen said, “and feel that Joe gives us the best chance going forward.”
Flacco will be under center for Indianapolis’ game on Sunday night versus the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) in Minneapolis. Richardson will serve as Flacco’s backup, Steichen said.
Richardson completed only 10 of 32 passes (31.3 percent) for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception last Sunday against the Texans.
During the third quarter, Richardson made the unusual move of taking himself out of the game in the middle of a Colts drive. He later explained that he needed a breather after scrambling on several plays.
“Tired, I ain’t gonna lie,” Richardson said. “That was a lot of running right there that I did. … So, I just told Shane that I needed a break right there.”
Steichen reiterated Wednesday that Richardson’s decision to sit out one play didn’t have a part in his naming Flacco as the team’s starter.
“It didn’t,” Steichen said. “He knows he can’t do that in that situation. That’s part of the growth and the development process that we go through. And again, I think (Flacco) gives us the best chance right now going forward.”
Richardson, 22, said Wednesday that “it hurts” to lose his starting job, however he feels his teammates still support him.
“As a competitor, definitely don’t want to be told that you’re not the guy anymore for the upcoming week,” Richardson said. “… I’m using this moment as an opportunity to grow and just learn from my mistake.”
Richardson, who missed Weeks 5 and 6 with an oblique injury, has completed only 44.4 percent of his passes for 958 yards with four TDs and seven interceptions in six games this season.
Drafted No. 4 overall in 2023 out of Florida, Richardson’s rookie season ended after just four games due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
“Not giving up on Anthony by any means,” Steichen said. “He’s a really young player with a ton of talent. He’ll use this time to continue to develop and grow as a professional.”
Flacco was 1-1 in two starts earlier this month against Jacksonville and Tennessee. He has completed 65.7 percent of his passes this season for 716 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception.
Flacco is 104-83 as an NFL starter with the Baltimore Ravens (2008-18), Denver Broncos (2019), New York Jets (2020-22), Cleveland Browns (2023) and Colts. He has thrown for 44,652 yards with 252 TDs and 156 INTs. He was the MVP of Baltimore’s 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
