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Stephen Holder, ESPN
INDIANAPOLIS — Two games after a sudden quarterback change, the Indianapolis Colts have made a dramatic turnaround and will return Anthony Richardson to the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
Coach Shane Steichen said the coaching staff implored Richardson to take more control of his off-field preparation and pay attention to details and that “over the last two weeks, he’s made great strides in those areas, huge strides for become a professional player. pro.”
That, Steichen said, motivated the decision to bring back Richardson, who had started just 10 games before being benched after Week 7. He missed the last two starts, losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
“It’s going to start this week,” Steichen said. “He’ll start the rest of the season. And we’ll go from there.”
The team’s messaging over the past few weeks has resulted in some confusion, with Steichen initially saying that the move to Flacco was made to give the team the best chance to win and that it was planned to be for the remainder of the season.
But Richardson said he believes he ultimately could have benefited from the firing, whatever the motivations.
“I think these two weeks definitely opened my eyes and allowed me to dig deeper and look inside myself and see what I’m made of,” Richardson said. “So I’m grateful for these last two weeks and I’m quietly grateful that it happened.”
He added: “As a competitor, you never want to be on the sidelines when you think there’s an opportunity to go out and help the team. But sitting on the sidelines allowed me to look and see certain things that I could correct about myself, certain things that the team “I needed help and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity. I’m glad Shane felt like I was the man again. I’m forever grateful and just grateful.”
Richardson’s performance played at least some role in him being benched. He had a 44.4% completion rate, the lowest in the league, and had thrown seven interceptions. But Flacco’s struggles in the last two games undermined Steichen’s position that playing the 39-year-old veteran was best for the team, which, at 4-6, still harbors postseason hopes. Flacco committed six turnovers in the two games, including a three-interception performance against Buffalo last Sunday.
Steichen had stated earlier this week that he planned to move forward with Flacco in Sunday’s game. But after further reflection, he changed course.
“Everything is evaluated,” he said. “I evaluated over the last 24 hours, had conversations and again, where Anthony has developed over the last two weeks and the growth that he has made… we have a lot of faith that he will be our franchise quarterback because of the abilities and the person who is.”
When asked if Richardson, 22, will get a short handle given his previous benching and expected ups and downs (he’s still the NFL’s youngest starting quarterback), Steichen said he offered some reassurance in a conversation private with Richardson.
“I made it very clear that he’s going to be our quarterback going forward,” Steichen said.
“I think these two weeks definitely opened my eyes and allowed me to dig deeper and look inside myself and see what I’m made of. So I’m grateful for these last two weeks and being low-key. I’m grateful it happened.”
Antonio Richardson
As to whether this opportunity could present itself again, Richardson was unsure.
“I definitely didn’t know anything,” he said. “[Steichen] He told me that my time was going to come again and I didn’t necessarily know when it was going to be. But I was preparing as if I were the starter. And nothing is going to change. “I’m going to work a little harder to keep this job.”
His teammates have noticed that Richardson is already doing it, which has earned him support in the locker room.
“I just see a sense of growth and maturity,” linebacker and team captain Zaire Franklin said. “…Not only in what the position means to the team, but also in the responsibility that comes with it.
“I think the reality of the situation is, look, he’s not perfect. None of us are. He’s going to make mistakes. I challenged the rest of the captains and leaders on this team, let’s earn our role. Let’s do our job to help him.” to support him and back him… He’s in a difficult situation because the position he’s in has a big microscope and his decisions mean a lot to our organization, but we have to do our best to help him.”
As for Flacco, he has experienced a much different run in 2024 than he did in Cleveland last season, when his 4-1 stint as a starter helped the Browns reach the postseason. Flacco is 1-3 in his four starts this season.
“I’m really disappointed with the way the last few weeks have gone,” he said. “When you walk into this locker room, you want to be able to really hold your head up and feel like you’ve done the best thing for the team. And I didn’t necessarily feel like I had done that.”
