The Indianapolis Colts have decided to make yet another change at quarterback after falling to 4-6 on the season.
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Head coach Shane Steichen announced the news on Wednesday and confirmed that Anthony Richardson will return to the starting lineup in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Joe Flacco will return to the bench after starting the last two weeks.
Steichen added that Richardson will remain the starting quarterback for the rest of the NFL season.
This is a significant change considering that Steichen said on Monday that Flacco would continue to start for the Colts despite struggling with interceptions.
"Joe's a veteran guy, like I've said," Steichen said in response to a question from The Athletic writer James Boyd. "He's had two games that he'd want back. But again, he goes out there, throws some good passes. Obviously, the interceptions, there's three of those. There's two that he'd want back.
"Again, you stick with it, you grind through it. The process of this whole thing, man, it really is a process. We're going through that process right now. Right now, Joe's still our guy."
The former University of Florida standout has completed 59 of his 133 attempted passes (44.4%) for 958 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 242 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Richardson has started six games this season while accumulating a record of 3-3. He missed games against the Titans and Jaguars after suffering a hip injury, but he returned to lead the Colts to a 16-10 win over the Dolphins in Week 7.
The second-year quarterback suited up against the Texans in Week 8 and led the team to a narrow 23-20 loss to the AFC South rival. He surprised many during this game by pulling himself out of the lineup for one play due to being tired.
The Colts benched Richardson following the loss, but Steichen said that the exit from the game did not play into the decision. He said that Flacco just gave the Colts the best chance to win.
The move to the veteran quarterback did not spark a winning streak as it did for the Browns last season. Flacco only threw for 179 yards and an interception during a Week 9 loss to the Vikings.
Flacco then threw three interceptions in last weekend's 30-20 loss to the Bills. The Bills returned one of these interceptions for a touchdown.
Now 4-6, the Colts are second in the AFC South and two games back of the Texans (6-4). Richardson will return to the starting lineup after the quarterback change and will attempt to get the Colts back to the winning ways.
Simply tying the Houston-based team will not be enough to challenge for the division crown, however, considering that the Texans swept the Colts this season. This is a crucial tiebreaker.
