“I feel Joe gives us the best chance to win right now,” stated Shane Steichen, the Colts‘ head coach. The Colts have demoted Anthony Richardson from the starting QB spot as they lost their last game to the Texans and now stand at 4-4.

This whole situation with Richardson has grabbed everyone’s attention. Ex-NFL player Ross Tucker also weighed in on the benching and shared his thoughts on his podcast. He stressed how important it was for Shane Steichen to make this move for the Colts. “He’s doing the right thing by starting Joe Flacco. If Flacco plays well and they go to the playoffs, great. If Flacco plays poorly and after a few games he’s struggling, bench him.” 

Tucker further mentioned that it might be better for Richardson to sit out for a while and just watch the game. “It’s not over for Richardson. Jordan Love sat for three years. Aaron Rodgers sat for three years.”

In a crazy turn of events, Richardson decided to check himself out of the game against the Texans on Sunday because he was tired. Surprisingly, the Colts kept the Texans under their thumbs for most of the game. It all went downhill after Richardson’s Hail Mary attempt. He struggled so much that he could hardly get the ball out of his hands.

After the disappointing loss, Steichen announced that the team would bench Richardson and continue with Joe Flacco for the rest of the season. He felt that this move was in the best interest of the team.

Richardson probably never imagined this happening, not in his wildest dreams. He’s young and just starting his NFL career, so getting benched must feel like a nightmare for him. But to be honest, he has struggled with his health and delivered inconsistent performances since beginning his career.

The 22-year-old stepped in as the Colts’ QB in August 2023 and made his debut in September 2023. He also underwent nasal septum surgery to improve his breathing during his first training camp. But for now, he has to stay off the field. In the meantime, Joe Flacco will take on the QB duties for the team.

What can Anthony Richardson learn from Joe Flacco?

At this crucial point in the season, it makes sense for the Colts to lean on the 39-year-old QB. Flacco, who started the season as a backup to Anthony, has 16 years of experience as an NFL player. Back in March, he signed a one-year deal with the Colts. In 2013, he also led the Ravens, the team he played for 11 seasons, to a Super Bowl victory.

Flacco has bounced around to a few different teams over his career. He has achieved some impressive milestones along the way, demonstrating resilience and adaptability, which have earned him respect in the league.

This season, he has played four games and put up some solid numbers, throwing 7 touchdown passes. His standout game this season came against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he completed 33 out of 44 passes for 359 yards, throwing 3 touchdowns without any interceptions.

So, it seems like Anthony could really pick up a lot from his senior.