Colts are benching Richardson, Flacco to start against Minnesota Vikings

The Indianapolis Colts are making a big change: they’re benching former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, with Joe Flacco stepping in to start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

According to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, this shift has been in the works, especially after head coach Shane Steichen recently hinted at a possible quarterback change.

Richardson, the talented No. 4 overall pick, has had an up-and-down season, struggling with accuracy issues that have led to an NFL-low 44.4% completion rate in 2024. Though he did complete 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards and a TD in his last game, some drops from his receivers didn’t help.

Unfortunately, his inconsistency has held back the Colts’ offense this year, with no game where he’s surpassed a 50% completion rate or thrown for more than 220 yards. He’s had some promising moments with impressive deep throws and athletic plays, but these flashes haven’t been regular enough to keep him in the starting role.

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The benching also follows an unusual moment during Sunday’s game, when Richardson admitted he subbed himself out due to fatigue. This raised some eyebrows about his readiness for the grind of the season, with teammate Ryan Kelly remarking it wasn’t quite up to the team’s standard. While Richardson’s accuracy struggles have been the main issue, his tapping out may have influenced this decision, too.

Now, the team turns to Joe Flacco, who’s already proven he can stabilize an offense. Flacco went 1-1 as a starter this year and shone in the Week 5 game against Jacksonville, racking up 359 yards and three TDs, the most productive offensive day for the Colts this season. As he showed last year with the Browns, where he led them to the playoffs down the stretch, Flacco’s experience and calm leadership make him a reliable option when the pressure is on.

For the Colts, who sit at 4-4 and just half a game out of a wild-card spot, the switch is about keeping playoff hopes alive. While the team anticipated some growing pains when they drafted Richardson, they’re choosing to go with a steady veteran to keep things on track as they aim for the postseason.

This pivot is a bit of a surprise given the Colts’ strong support of Richardson as their long-term answer at quarterback. Now, the big question is how long Richardson will stay on the bench and what this decision means for his future in Indianapolis. If or when he’s back in the starting lineup, he’ll have plenty to prove.

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