Colts go back to Richardson as QB1 for rest of season

The Indianapolis Colts are going back to Anthony Richardson after all.

Indianapolis plans to start the second-year quarterback over Joe Flacco for the remainder of the 2024 season, head coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday.

"I talked to (owner) Jim (Irsay). I talked to (general manager) Chris (Ballard). But, ultimately, this was my decision," Steichen said Wednesday, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan.

Richardson began the season as QB1 but didn't show the improvements that the Colts expected early on, which led to Indianapolis starting the 39-year-old Flacco instead.

"Everyone has a different turn," Steichen explained, per Dave Griffiths of FOX59 News. "Everyone has a different play, development, how you go about the process. ... I love Anthony, he's a great person, and (I've) got great faith in him and his abilities to be our franchise quarterback."

Flacco started two games after the Colts benched Richardson, completing 67.7% of his passes for 451 yards and two touchdowns against four interceptions. Indianapolis lost to the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills in those contests to drop to 4-6 this season.

The former Super Bowl MVP, who helped the Cleveland Browns make the playoffs last year, said Wednesday he's "disappointed" that he wasn't able to "provide a spark and get some wins" for the Colts, according to Bowen.

Flacco also made three appearances (two starts) earlier this campaign between Weeks 4-6 after Richardson sustained an oblique injury.

The Colts drafted Richardson fourth overall in 2023 as a long-term project at QB, but the Florida product's rookie season ended prematurely after only four games due to a shoulder injury. The 22-year-old returned to the field in 2024 but struggled in six starts, posting only a 44.4% completion rate with 958 yards and four TDs to seven INTs. He also added 242 yards and one score on the ground.

"You have things to learn, and I think (Richardson) has done a great job of keeping his head on the right way and showing up and working hard," Flacco said of the young passer.

Indianapolis, currently the AFC's No. 8 seed, faces the New York Jets on Sunday.