Colts coach Shane Steichen confirmed the team made the quarterback change Wednesday and said it was not a temporary move.
Joe Flacco is the team’s starting quarterback “moving forward,” Steichen told reporters at a news conference Wednesday. Steichen said after last Sunday’s loss to the Texans that the team will evaluate everything with former starter and 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson, and that Flacco will replace him for this Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
Richardson made 10 NFL starts, which some would argue is not enough time to become an NFL starter, especially when Richardson came into the league on short notice before starting his college internship. Steichen said the move to Flacco shouldn’t be seen as the team throwing in the towel on the No. 2 quarterback.
“It was a tough decision, but one that I felt was in the best interest of our football team,” Steichen said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “Joe gives us the best chance to win now. However, we are by no means giving up on Anthony. We really aren’t. He is a talented young player. He will use this time to continue to develop and grow as a professional.”
Richardson will need full-speed reps to get better at some point, but the Colts are prioritizing the team’s present over its future and hoping they can eventually get better at both.