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Stephen Holder, ESPN
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay wore a sour expression late on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, as he watched the team’s marquee player suddenly leave the game.
Andrew Luck announced his retirement hours after a preseason game, ending the former Pro Bowl quarterback’s NFL contract. This news came as a huge shock to Irsei, who had been anticipating what would happen next.
The season that followed proved to be difficult for the team, going from one veteran quarterback to another, with each possible solution being less satisfactory than the previous one.
The boldest attempt at a solution, selecting Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, was supposed to end the quarterback merry-go-round. But on Tuesday, the Colts benched Richardson and started 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco amid a tough second season, raising a host of new questions.
This is a dramatic change in approach for the Colts, who have prioritized the fate of this season over the long-term development of their franchise quarterback. The Colts maintain that Richardson, who at 22 years old was the NFL’s youngest starting QB, is still under contract. What this means in the long term remains to be seen.
The Colts were enamored with Richardson even before the draft, selecting him after starting 13 games at Florida and vowing to help him succeed.
“It’s going to be tough,” Irsay said. “I know that. But he’s got to play to get better. There’s no question… we’ve got to get Anthony on the field.”
Head coach Shane Steichen, who was hired three months before Richardson was drafted with the understanding that he would help develop the young quarterback, said at the time that “the players get reps, learn the system, and develop the offense. We have to learn. We have to do that,” he added. Build this around your quarterback. ”
As of Tuesday, that construction process was on hold.
Richardson’s completion percentage is 44.4%, the second lowest of any player with at least 100 pass attempts in a season over the past 20 years. He also has the second-highest interception rate (5.3%) this season behind Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers.
After Richardson’s 10-of-32 passing performance in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans, Steichen said Monday he was considering his options and “evaluating” the position.
That evaluation led Steichen and his staff to Flacco, who is scheduled to start Sunday night in the 4-4 Colts’ game against the Minnesota Vikings in a close AFC race. The Texans (6-2) lead the division.
Steichen said Monday that Richardson’s much-criticized decision to leave Sunday’s game for one play after giving up consecutive points because he was “tired” played no role in personnel decisions. said on Monday.
Instead, the Colts say they are driven by tough teams ahead, including Minnesota, the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions.
“Right now, obviously, we’re sitting at .500 and we’re in the middle of this,” Steichen said this week. “We have to start moving forward. November is coming. November, December, we have to play our best ball.”
“Everything we want to achieve is right in front of us and we have to go and get it.”
2:15
Schefter: Colts benching Richardson ‘seismic shift on many levels’
Adam Schefter joins Pat McAfee to report on the Colts’ decision to bench Anthony Richardson in place of Joe Flacco.
Flacco played He won the Comeback Player of the Year award last season after an incredible late-season performance with the Cleveland Browns. Since 2023, he ranks first in yards per game (309.1) and touchdowns per game (2.6) among QBs who have started at least five games. He also has 300 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in four games, which ties Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott and Baker Mayfield for the most in the NFL over the same span.
Oddsmakers gave the underdog Colts a slight boost following Tuesday’s news, adjusting the Colts-Vikings point spread from Colts +6 to +5.5. Also on Tuesday, ESPN Analytics adjusted its playoff model to reflect this move, giving the Colts a 64% chance of making the postseason with Flacco and 46% with Richardson, according to ESPN Research.
“He’s a guy who’s been doing it for a long time,” Steichen said earlier this month. “He’s seen a lot of football, which is huge in that position.”
This gives Flacco an advantage over the talented Richardson. Richardson is tied with Mitch Trubisky, the Chicago Bears’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, for the fewest starts in college among quarterbacks selected in the first round.
However, there will be a difference between him and Flacco under center.
The Colts won’t be as dynamic in the running game, as Richardson offered great rushing potential as a two-way quarterback. Despite missing two games with an oblique injury, Richardson ranks sixth among quarterbacks with 242 rushing yards.
The Colts may also see fewer explosive plays. Richardson led the NFL in air yards per pass attempt (12.3). That may have been largely offset by his historically low success rate, but it also led to big plays. The Colts lead the NFL with 44 pass attempts of 20 yards or more, and Richardson has touchdown passes of 69, 60 and 54 yards this season.
The Colts are counting on Flacco’s stability to be a net benefit to the offense. In four games this season, Flacco has completed 65.7 percent of his passes (averaging 6.6 yards per play), thrown seven touchdowns and one interception.
long term The impact of Tuesday’s decision is even more uncertain.
The Colts have waited a long time to reset the quarterback position, but could there be more uncertainty at that position?
One team official said that was unexpected.
The source was adamant that “We’re not resigning Anthony. That would be talked about, but that’s not the case.” Richardson’s benching and the resulting downtime could be an “opportunity for growth.” He added that it is sexual.
The Colts named Richardson the starter after a preseason game during his rookie season. Richardson played in four games as a rookie due to injuries, including a season-ending injury to his pitching shoulder. Last season, he completed 59.5% of his passes with three touchdowns and one interception.
“It might be good to take a step back,” a team official said.
According to a source close to the player, Richardson was shocked by the news. But the source suggested he believed Richardson would handle the relegation issue professionally and be ready if called upon.
If Richardson doesn’t ultimately become the Colts’ franchise quarterback, what does it mean for general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen? Ballard took over in 2017, and the Colts haven’t won in the playoffs since 2018. They have not qualified for the postseason since 2020.
Steichen’s quarterback expertise was a driving force behind his recruitment, particularly with Jalen Hurts as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We know we have to find a young quarterback who will develop, and that’s the key factor,” Irsay said when introducing Steichen as the new coach in February 2023.
The Colts’ future at the most important position remains uncertain. The relief Arcee felt the night Richardson was drafted has been replaced by the reality that the Colts can’t say right now who their quarterback will be next season.
When it comes to quarterback, the Colts are right back at the starting point looking for answers for now.
