The Indianapolis Colts will start No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson at quarterback -- a role he briefly lost to veteran Joe Flacco -- for the rest of the 2024 season, head coach Shane Steichen announced on Wednesday (November 13) ahead of the team's Week 11 matchup against the New York Jets via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
"Another QB decision for the #Colts: Coach Shane Steichen announces that the team is going back to Anthony Richardson Sunday and for the rest of the season. Joe Flacco back to the bench. An about-face from where they were just two days ago," Rapoport wrote on his X account.
Flacco, 39, started in the Colts' last two losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, while Richardson, 22, was recently making strides in his "attention to detail," Streichen said via Yahoo Sports. The coach has previously claimed that he planned to continue with Flacco despite the former Super Bowl champion having thrown thrown four interceptions and losing two fumbles in two games.
“You’ve gotta go through the process every single day," Streichen said of Richardson on Monday (November 11) via the Athletic's James Boyd. "And that’s where it’s at. He's a great person, phenomenal human being. Like I said, not ever losing faith or trust in him. We're going through a process right now, and that’s where it’s at.”
Richardson, who Flacco also replaced in Weeks 5 and 6 due to an oblique injury, has gone 3-3 in six starts during his second NFL season, throwing for 958 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions on 59 of 133 passing, while also recording 242 yards and one touchdown on 41 rushing attempts. The former No. 4 overall pick only appeared in four games during his rookie year before suffering a season-ending concussion.