Colts not committing to Anthony Richardson as team's starter vs. Vikings: 'We're evaluating'

One time aft Anthony Richardson took himself retired of nan Indianapolis Colts’ nonaccomplishment to nan Houston Texans, caput coach Shane Steichen says nan backmost position is being evaluated heading into Week 9. 

Being non-committal to Richardson, nan team’s No. 4 wide prime from past year’s NFL Draft, intends location is simply a chance Steichen will person him connected nan sideline and Joe Flacco, his seasoned journeyman backup, starting Week 9 against nan Minnesota Vikings. 

However, erstwhile asked if Richardson was still nan Colts’ starting quarterback, Steichen replied, "Right now, coming he is, yes." But he said, "We’re evaluating," erstwhile asked if he will beryllium starting connected Sunday. 

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Indianapolis Colts backmost Anthony Richardson (5) astatine nan statement of scrimmage during nan crippled against nan Houston Texans astatine NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Richardson has not had a bully 2nd twelvemonth successful the NFL frankincense acold aft a short rookie run that ended early owed to injury. 

He has completed a lowly 44.4% of his walk attempts complete six games, of which nan Colts are 3-3. He has thrown for conscionable 958 yards pinch 4 touchdowns to 7 interceptions — a divided nary squad wants to ever spot pinch its quarterback.

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Richardson is averaging 16.2 yards per completion, an area of his crippled that scouts loved coming retired of Florida past twelvemonth arsenic he tin really propulsion a awesome heavy ball. But his wide accuracy and decision-making has been mediocre successful 2024, including connected Sunday against nan Texans.

Richardson was 10-of-32 passing for 175 yards pinch 1 touchdown and 1 interception, which included conscionable 2 completions connected 15 attempts successful nan first half. One of those completions, though, was a 69-yard touchdown walk to Josh Downs. 

Then, location was a infinitesimal successful nan 3rd 4th wherever Richardson tapped nan apical of his helmet aft a run, signaling that he needed to travel disconnected nan field. Usually, whenever a backmost does this, if astatine all, it’s owed to injury. 

Indianapolis Colts backmost Anthony Richardson (5) is deed by Houston Texans protect extremity Danielle Hunter (55) successful nan 2nd half astatine NRG Stadium. (Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)

However, Richardson said aft nan crippled that his little exit was owed to fatigue. 

"Tired, ain’t gonna lie," Richardson told nan media astir nan exit. "That was a batch of moving correct location that I did, and I didn’t deliberation I was gonna beryllium capable to spell that adjacent play. So, I conscionable told [Steichen] I needed a break correct there."

Richardson acknowledged that he "knows" he can’t beryllium checking successful and retired of nan crippled arsenic nan team’s violative leader, but now location is surely a ample mobility people regarding nan backmost position for Indy heading into a matchup against a Vikings squad that is looking to get backmost into nan triumph file aft dropping 2 consecutive games. 

Flacco, whose 17th play successful nan NFL is his first pinch nan Colts, has started doubly for nan Colts this play owed to a Richardson injury, successful which nan squad went 1-1. 

Indianapolis Colts backmost Anthony Richardson (5) stands connected nan section aft nan crippled against nan Houston Texans astatine NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

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His 4 games, which included coming successful for Richardson against nan Pittsburgh Steelers, person resulted successful 716 passing yards astatine a 65.7% completion complaint pinch 7 touchdowns to conscionable 1 interception.

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