A benched Anthony Richardson needed time and reps the desperate Colts couldn’t afford to give him

Through 10 profession starts, Anthony Richardson has shown that he’s a glorified workout successful frustration. The backmost has completed hardly complete 50 percent of his passes while turning nan shot complete (a 5.3 interception percentage) astatine a staggering rate. We’re talking astir a backmost dwelling successful 32nd successful expected points added (EPA) and completion percent complete expected (CPOE) by astir half a percent point. For each intents and purposes, moreover fixed nan mini sample size, Richardson has played for illustration 1 of nan NFL’s worst quarterbacks this century. Full stop.

But this was apt ever going to beryllium nan lawsuit for a subordinate galore deemed painfully unpolished coming retired of Florida. Contrasted to personification for illustration nan Carolina Panthers’ much seasoned Bryce Young, Richardson needed reps, successful earnest, to activity each nan kinks retired of his game.

Unfortunately, nan Colts and caput coach Shane Steichen won’t springiness nan erstwhile No. 4 wide prime nan opportunity. On Tuesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that nan Colts were benching Richardson for seasoned Joe Flacco.

It’s a devastating changeable crossed nan front of Richardson’s profession but 1 that astir apt had to beryllium made nonetheless:

QB change: The #Colts are readying to commencement Joe Flacco this Sunday nighttime against nan #Vikings, sources say. A awesome move, arsenic nan erstwhile first-rounder Anthony Richardson heads to nan bench. pic.twitter.com/p6jQuGh3iu

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 29, 2024

It’s a spot trite to say, but Richardson really did person a developmental curve akin to that of Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen coming retired of college. Both players were toolsy beingness titans seemingly constructed successful a laboratory to play football. Both had cannon arms and impeccable athleticism connected nan move. Both needed important activity arsenic meticulous short and intermediate passers — I’m talking aggregate years — to beryllium viable starters successful nan NFL.

The quality is that nan Bills gave Allen clip because they saw meaningful advancement twelvemonth complete twelvemonth earlier he yet exploded successful 2020. By comparison, Richardson was backed into a area to commencement 2024 aft losing his rookie twelvemonth to a enarthrosis injury. He was almost forced into having a leap twelvemonth travel retired of obscurity contempt throwing little than 100 passes astatine nan master level (and little than 400 full successful college). Instead, he struggled.

It doesn’t matter really people talented you are: acquisition is ever nan top teacher. Richardson simply didn’t person capable to meet nan Colts’ (unreasonably?) precocious expectations.

That successful itself is nan sadistic calculus for an statement that sold itself retired connected an highly earthy backmost prospect. To scope his ostensible precocious potential, Richardson required at least a afloat twelvemonth of moving done crippled plans and trying to process connected nan fly. Maybe two. If it came pinch struggles successful nan shape of wildly inaccurate passes that couldn’t deed nan wide broadside of a barn, truthful beryllium it. This was expected to beryllium a semipermanent process borne retired of patience.

This was nan woody nan Colts made nan infinitesimal they drafted Richardson.

By that aforesaid token, nan NFL remains a business. There are 52 different players connected nan Colts roster who expect their activity to make pragmatic decisions that are champion for everyone. Yes, quarterbacks return nan lion’s stock of precedence complete different positions for bully reason, but that setup only happens for established stars. All changes are connected nan array for rusty anchors for illustration Richardson that mostly resistance everyone down. So, astatine this circumstantial infinitesimal successful time, Flacco is unquestionably a amended action for Indianapolis than Richardson. While a journeyman, Flacco is personification different Colts veterans don’t person to interest astir pulling his weight.

Because, for nan astir part, he astir apt will.

It’s shortsighted and sadistic to Richardson’s wide improvement because it astir apt ne'er happens without injury. But nan Colts can’t spend to halfway his needs astatine nan disbursal of everyone else’s aliases consequence a not-so-subtle mutiny.

By nary intends is it complete for Richardson’s early successful Indianapolis. I’m of nan sentiment that this move is much of a complete reset for a constricted backmost that needs to return an extended activity without getting overwhelmed. Maybe it’s capable to spot him commencement to move nan area adjacent twelvemonth aliases possibly moreover later this season.

Still, we can’t kid ourselves.

If nan Colts weren’t consenting to beryllium diligent pinch Richardson’s warts and blemishes now, erstwhile will they ever be? Everyone should already cognize nan reply to that question.