Source – Colts bench Anthony Richardson, turn to Joe Flacco


The Indianapolis Colts are ruling out Anthony Richardson and turning to Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback, sources tell ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter.

Sources told Fowler and Schefter that Colts coaches met Tuesday morning and ultimately decided on a quarterback change, choosing Flacco over the struggling Richardson.

This benching came two days after Richardson asked to sit out a matchup from Sunday's game against the Houston Texans because, as he later told reporters, he was “tired.”

Colts coach Shane Steichen said Monday that he was evaluating the team's quarterback situation, adding that Richardson's request to come out of the game would not be a factor in his decision.

Richardson said after Sunday's game that he told Steichen he “needs a break right now” as he left the game patting his helmet.

Richardson was 10 of 32 for 175 yards in Sunday's loss at Houston. The No. 4 overall pick in last year's draft has a 44.4% completion rate this season, the fifth-worst in a player's first six games of a season since 2000, according to ESPN Research.

Steichen did not defend Richardson's decision to leave the game, saying Monday that he had a private conversation with the second-year quarterback and adding that “you can't take yourself out, and it was a learning experience for him.” And they have to move beyond “this.”

Colts rookie Ryan Kelly is the longest-tenured player on the current roster, with Richardson saying, “He knows this is not the standard he needs to play to and the rest of the team holds him to that.”

The Colts (4-4) will now turn to the 39-year-old Flacco, who replaced the injured Richardson earlier this season and passed for 716 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in parts of three games.

Richardson is the second quarterback taken in the first round of last year's draft to be benched this season. The Carolina Panthers traded Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick last month for veteran Andy Dalton.


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