Coach Shane Steichen says QB switch was made because Colts want to win now

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts backmost Anthony Richardson was wounded erstwhile he was told he was being benched.

His replacement, 39-year-old Joe Flacco, tried to support everything successful perspective.

One day aft news collapsed that Richardson, nan No. 4 wide prime successful nan 2023 draft, had been demoted, coach Shane Steichen told reporters Flacco would stay nan starter nan remainder of this play for 1 elemental reason.

“It's my responsibility to 53 guys and to this statement to triumph shot games,” Steichen said Wednesday successful his first comments since making nan change. “Tough decision, but 1 I felt was successful nan champion liking of our shot team. I consciousness Joe gives america nan champion chance to triumph correct now. With that being said, not giving up connected Anthony (Richardson) by immoderate means."

Indy (4-4) drafted Richardson to extremity a seemingly endless spinning backmost carousel, projecting him to beryllium nan franchise's semipermanent solution.

Since then, though, nan 22-year-old has struggled some pinch his capacity and his health.

His completion rate, 44.4%, is nan worst successful nan NFL this play and he's thrown 4 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions. His 9 full turnovers are tied for 3rd astir successful nan NFL contempt missing 2 games pinch an injured correct hip.

Seeing Richardson connected nan sideline is hardly a caller phenomenon. He's missed 15 of nan 25 games successful his profession and has finished conscionable 5 of his 10 profession starts — each because of an assortment of injuries. including season-ending room connected his throwing enarthrosis past October.

Then came Sunday's game.

Houston (6-2) made Richardson salary for a mediocre determination by picking disconnected an errant walk into double sum successful nan last infinitesimal of nan first half. The Texans quickly converted nan turnover into a touchdown and yet won 23-20 to return a two-game lead successful nan AFC South while sweeping nan play bid from Indy.

Worse yet, Richardson concisely near nan game successful nan 2nd half aft tapping his helmet to awesome he needed a breather. Though he returned connected Indy's adjacent series, his determination to time off — connected what Steichen said was going to beryllium a handoff — was truthful heavy scrutinized, Richardson acknowledged he made a correction though he didn't opportunity erstwhile he realized it was a mistake.

“Regarding that play, I cognize I can’t do that arsenic a leader, particularly arsenic a backmost of this team," Richardson said. "As a shot subordinate successful general, I can’t needfully conscionable return myself retired of nan crippled for illustration that, particularly successful cardinal moments for illustration that. But you unrecorded and you learn. You’ve conscionable sewage to turn from it.”

The result: Indy is benching 1 of nan youngest, least-experienced quarterbacks successful nan convention and going pinch 1 of nan league's oldest.

Flacco, past year's AP NFL Comeback Player of nan Year and nan Super Bowl 47 MVP, already has made 2 starts and is 2-1 successful nan 3 appearances pinch nan Colts.

He's completed 71 of 108 passes (65.7%) pinch 716 yards, 7 TDs and 1 interception and his speedy decision-making has helped Indy's discourtesy enactment connected nan section much consistently.

And pinch nan Colts still successful nan playoff mix, Flacco surely appears tin of starring different squad connected a postseason tally — conscionable arsenic he did pinch nan Cleveland Browns past season. But his biggest publication to helping Richardson's maturation whitethorn beryllium providing insights only a fewer different NFL quarterbacks can.

“The point we person to retrieve present is Anthony is really young. I cognize that erstwhile I was that young, there’s nary chance I would person been capable to person nan position and conscionable nan correct caput connected my shoulders to grip it and return it nan correct way,” Flacco said. “Being this is my 17th year, I do person that perspective. So this doesn’t person to beryllium a antagonistic thing. There are a batch of positives connected his extremity that tin travel from this.”

Still, it's a melodramatic displacement for Steichen, who conscionable past week told reporters he needed to thief Richardson pinch amended play-calling. Back then, nan Colts seemed intent to fto Richardson study from his miscues sloppy of nan results.

What changed? Steichen said nan move had thing to do pinch Richardson taking himself retired of Sunday's crippled because he was “tired” and much to do pinch what was champion for nan Colts.

Still, it caught nan calm, unflappable Richardson disconnected guard.

“Of course, it hurts,” he said. "As a competitor, you decidedly don’t want to beryllium told that you’re not nan feline anymore for nan upcoming week, but it’s each good. I’m utilizing this infinitesimal arsenic an opportunity to turn and conscionable study from my mistakes.”

So for now, it's Flacco's occupation to lose.

“I’m fired up man,” Flacco said. "Anytime you get a chance to play shot successful this league, you person to count yourself arsenic blessed. I really consciousness very fortunate to beryllium pinch this squad and beryllium successful this business and I’m excited to get it done.”

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