Coach Shane Steichen's decision to switch to Joe Flacco at quarterback is a bold one and, let's be honest, a significant shift in how the Indianapolis Colts are prioritizing their season. With a 3-5 record, Steichen has made it clear he's looking for consistency and stability, and Flacco brings the veteran presence that Richardson, even with his first-round pick status, simply hasn't developed yet.
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But make no mistake: Steichen isn't saying the Colts are abandoning Anthony Richardson's future — they're just shelving it, at least for now.
"A tough decision, but one that I felt was in the best interest in our football team," Steichen said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. "Joe gives us the best chance to win right now. With that being said, we're not giving up on Anthony by any means. We're really not. He's a young player with a ton of talent. He'll use this time to continue to develop and grow as a professional."
For Richardson, it's tough. He's shown flashes in his 10 starts, and while that's not a massive sample size, it's clear he's still in the early stages of development.
Coming into the NFL, Richardson was already behind the curve in terms of experience, and NFL defenses can expose that. Yet Steichen is betting on a proven veteran in Flacco to give the Colts a shot at finding some wins, ideally providing a boost to an offense that's had moments but lacked the cohesion needed to close out games.
The move doesn't mean Steichen is waving a white flag on Richardson. Quite the opposite. Steichen is trying to navigate the fine line between development and competitiveness.
Flacco may not be a long-term answer, but he can stabilize things now, allowing Richardson to absorb what's needed for the big leap forward. It's about preparing Richardson for the long haul while still competing in the short term — a tricky balancing act, but one the Colts seem committed to testing.
