Anthony Richardson will regain starting quarterback duties for the Indianapolis Colts beginning with this weekend’s game against the New York Jets, head coach Shane Steichen announced on Wednesday.
According to Steichen, it will be Richardson’s job for the remainder of the season.
Joe Flacco was the team’s No. 1 the past two weeks defeats to the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills but Steichen said Richardson has shown improvement in practice that warrants giving him another shot to start.
This decision comes two days after Steichen told reporters that Flacco would remain the starter, even after throwing four interceptions and losing two fumbles in two games. Despite the veteran’s struggles, Steichen, at the time, wasn’t ready to go back to Richardson.
Steichen said Wednesday that Flacco’s play did not factor into this decision.
In six games this season, Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has struggled. He has thrown for 958 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 44.4 completion percentage.
Flacco, meanwhile, hasn’t been able to replicate the success he had last season with the Cleveland Browns. In his six games, he’s thrown for 1,167 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions and a 65.5 completion percentage. The Colts are 2-4 in games he has played.
Entering Week 11, the Colts are 4-6 and second in the AFC South, two games behind the first-place Houston Texans and just outside the AFC playoff picture.