On Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen insisted that his determination to bench beginning quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of backup Joe Flacco had nothing to do with Richardson going to the sidelines for one play throughout this previous Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans as a result of the second-year professional was “tired.”
Richardson later accepted duty for the second many believe resulted in Flacco getting the nod for this Sunday evening’s matchup between 4-4 Indianapolis and the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings.
“Concerning that play, I do know I can not do this as a pacesetter, particularly as a quarterback of this staff. Particularly as a soccer participant normally,” Richardson mentioned about tapping out towards Houston, as shared by Nick Shook of the NFL’s web site. “I can not simply convey myself out of the sport like that, particularly in key moments like that. However you reside and also you be taught. Simply gotta develop from it.”
Multiple former NFL gamers publicly ripped Richardson for exiting a recreation resulting from fatigue.
Being relegated to QB2 duties is simply the newest irritating improvement for the fourth general decide of the 2023 NFL Draft, who to date has made simply 10 career regular-season begins and who was previously labeled by some as “injury-prone” earlier than he left a lot to be desired along with his play.
In accordance with Pro Football Reference, Richardson started Wednesday ranked final within the NFL with a 57.2 passer score, a 32.4% passing success price and a 44.4% completion proportion on the season. He indicated on Wednesday that he’ll use the benching “as a chance to develop and be taught from [his] errors.”
It seems Richardson might spend the following couple of months rising and studying, as Steichen mentioned on Wednesday that Flacco can be his QB1 “going ahead.” Richardson could not take one other significant snap this season so long as Flacco stays wholesome and performs in addition to he did with the Cleveland Browns throughout the 2023 marketing campaign.
“Of course it hurts,” Richardson added concerning the benching. “As a competitor, undoubtedly do not wish to be informed I am not the man anymore for the upcoming week.”
