Tag: Anthony Richardson

The Colts went back to Anthony Richardson because a slim chance is better than none

Grasping at straws doesn’t seem so bad when the alternative is nothing.

Joe Flacco’s unlikely career revival is over. It lasted approximately 11 months and 10 games.

Flacco’s emergence as the quarterback capable of taking the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2023 made him Anthony Richardson’s mentor, then successor, for an Indianapolis Colts team built to win in 2024. He was one of few veteran free agents to join a nine-win roster mostly intact from the season prior. He was supposed to help push Richardson to a place of stability behind center and, barring that, provide the leverage needed to break a three-year playoff drought.

Neither of these things happened. Richardson was a mess, so head coach Shane Steichen gave the keys to his veteran quarterback hoping he could set the floor the young gunslinger failed to maintain. Instead, Flacco looked like the discarded veteran who lingered as a free agent into November last season. He lost each of his starts after his latest, non-injury-related promotion.

Now he’s been reverted to a backup role.

Richardson came back from a hip injury only to lose his starting job before Week 9. On one hand, it was justifiable; the Colts had a .500 record despite the league’s worst quarterback play. In the short term, Flacco provided the best opportunity for instant gratification.

In the long term, however, it was a risky play. Richardson was only 18 months removed from being the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Colts weren’t closing the books on his potential, but they were making a direct statement about it just 10 starts into his career. Out went a player whose game swung wildly between zero and 100, replaced by a veteran who at his best might top out at a 70.

Flacco didn’t top out. In two starts since replacing a healthy Richardson he’s thrown four interceptions and just two touchdown passes. He’s been responsible for -22.1 expected points added (EPA) in those losses, each of which came by 10 points or fewer.

No quarterback in the league has been more detrimental to his offense in that stretch — and Cooper Rush saw significant playing time the last two weeks.

via rbsdm.com and the author.

The Colts looked at that and realized there’s no floor to speak of. Flacco was the 32nd-most valuable quarterback in a field of 32. There’s nowhere to go but up.

Thus, the cannon-armed young quarterback who cannot stop running himself into trouble (or out of breath) will get the chance to raise a bar that cannot get much lower. Richardson is capable of great things. We know this because we’ve seen it, even in the midst of a season where he was benched for a 38-year-old journeyman.

Tantalizing deep throws aside — and he’s only completed nine in 30 attempts this season, per SIS — Richardson has been a mess. He’s been the version of Josh Allen we’d been warned about when the Buffalo Bills took a risk on another gigantic, rocket-armed scrambler with accuracy issues. Allen eventually rose above the concerns that followed him out of the University of Wyoming thanks to help from Stefon Diggs and an offense that played to his strengths.

Richardson has been unable to follow that path despite a deep core of playmakers around him. While there’s no All-Pro WR1 in the lineup, wideouts like Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell create a smorgasbord of targets who can get open across the field. He’s completed just 44.4 percent of his passes.

He’s been bad when blitzed (26.5 percent completion rate) and bad when there’s no pressure (48.1 percent). His on-target throw rate has fallen from 74 percent as a rookie (25th best among starting QBs) to 55 percent this season (more than eight points worse than any non-Colts quarterback). He’s a devastating runner but these scrambles and designed runs are the genesis of his recurring injury concerns as a pro.

The Colts future hinges on his improvement. He wasn’t going to get better on the bench. He might not on the field, either, but that’s almost besides the point. Indianapolis had nothing to lose by tossing Richardson into the fray. Either he develops and becomes the franchise quarterback the team needed (at least for one more season) or he’s awful and the Colts are stuck with the league’s worst passer, which is… right where Flacco left them.

Indianapolis remains in the playoff hunt, even if its chances aren’t great. The more important factor is figuring out what Richardson can be on a weekly basis for an offense that shouldn’t be as unpleasant to watch as it is. The Colts’ quarterback clock just restarted; they’ve got eight more weeks to figure it out.

Colts make quarterback decision for rest of 2024 season

The Colts are going back to quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Broncos will host Indy in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts are going back to quarterback Anthony Richardson for the rest of the 2024 NFL season, coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday.

This marks a reversal from just two days ago when Steichen said Joe Flacco would start against the New York Jets in Week 11. Indianapolis has decided to instead start Richardson for the remainder of the season.

“We’ve made it very clear to him that he’s our quarterback going forward,” Steichen said before the Colts practiced on Wednesday.

Richardson, 22, went 3-3 as a starter to begin the year. He completed 44.4% of his passes for 958 yards with four touchdowns against seven interceptions. Richardson also rushed 41 times for 242 yards and a touchdown.

Flacco, 39, went 1-3 as a starter over the last four weeks. The veteran completed 66.5% of his passes for 1,167 yards with nine touchdowns against five interceptions.

Indy’s decision could impact the Denver Broncos (5-5) as the Colts (4-6) are competing for a wild card spot in the AFC playoffs. Denver will host Indianapolis at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 15 on Dec. 15.

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Colts should already regret benching Anthony Richardson after Joe Flacco threw 2 picks in first 8 plays

The Colts benched Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco, who looks washed up.

The Indianapolis Colts benched second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson early because they didn’t want to alienate their locker room. They also did it because they had faith that 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco would give their offense a high floor of performance.

Uh, about that.

Just one week after Flacco averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt in a Sunday night loss against the Minnesota Vikings, he threw a pick-six on the Colts’ first offensive play from scrimmage to the Buffalo Bills’ Taron Johnson. Then, to follow that up, he threw an interception to Buffalo defensive tackle Austin Johnson on the Colts’ eighth play.

That’s right. Two disastrous picks in the first eight plays as the guy who was supposed to be the steady, calm veteran over the “inexperienced” and “chaotic” young guy.

How poetic:

By no means do I think Richardson would be faring better — however, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell seems to disagree. Still, it’s hard to argue against getting him more valuable reps while watching an almost 40-year-old Flacco flail about and fail in the most comical possible fashion.

Congratulations, Colts. You reap what you sow. You better hope Richardson’s confidence isn’t ruined when he inevitably takes over again.

Kevin O’Connell shared glowing words of encouragement with Anthony Richardson after Colts QB’s recent benching

Kevin O’Connell is still one of Anthony Richardson’s biggest fans.

One of the toughest things to overcome as a struggling NFL quarterback is how you grapple with your confidence. If you’re someone like the Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson, who recently got benched, it’s very easy to dwell on your failures and think you won’t be able to make it in the league if someone’s “giving up” on you this early.

But Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t going to let Richardson fall by the wayside. He can still see his talent and moxie and doesn’t want him to get down on himself.

In a new video from Inside the NFL/NFL Films, O’Connell is recorded sharing some strong words of encouragement for Richardson after the Vikings beat the Colts last Sunday night. For someone like O’Connell, who isn’t remotely obligated to be this candid with an opposing player, it’s a great show of grace and understanding of the bigger picture:

It’s probably hard right now, but Richardson need not keep his head down. He will likely get another opportunity sooner rather than later to start, hopefully, to reach his immense potential in the NFL. And he can rest easy knowing that coaches like O’Connell everywhere will be in his corner.

Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson discusses what the last week was like for him

A week ago, Anthony Richardson had his first practice as the Colts’ backup quarterback. So what has the last week been like for him?

It was last Wednesday that Anthony Richardson had his first practice as the Indianapolis Colts’ backup quarterback, after the team made the decision to bench him in favor of Joe Flacco.

So now, one week later, as the Colts head back to the practice field in preparation for Buffalo, how have things been different for Richardson over the last week?

“Not much is different,” said Richardson at his locker. “I’m still preparing as if I am having the opportunity to play. So whenever there is opportunity, if they call my name they call my name, I’ll be ready to play.”

Following the team’s decision to bench Richardson, head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard sat down with Richardson to discuss why they were making the move.

“They told me they were going to go with Joe,” said Richardson of the conversation. “I have some things to clean up and just get better at. So I took that and I ran with that, so now I’m just trying to focus on that.”

On the season, Richardson had completed a league-low 44 percent of his passes with four touchdowns to seven interceptions. While both on the ground and through the air he brought explosive playmaking potential to the offense, consistency was lacking, resulting in a very boom-or-bust Colts’ offense.

With the Colts still in the thick of the AFC playoff race, even at 4-5, one of the key reasons that the Colts made the switch to Flacco was that he gave them the best chance to win and make a playoff push.

However, while things can still turn around with eight games remaining, after the Colts put all eyes around the NFL on themselves with this move, they then followed it up with a dud of an offensive performance on Sunday night against the Vikings.

In several key statistical areas, including the all important points column, the Colts had their worst performance on offense of the season.

But even so, as the Colts chase the seventh seed in the AFC while Richardson remains on the sidelines, they remain committed to Flacco.

As far as Richardson, he’s going to continue working on his craft so when his next opportunity comes–whenever that may be–he’s ready to take advantage.

“Just focus on the minute details,” Richardson added. “Just working on being a pro. Just trying to master everything that comes with it and just continue to learn and step into the territory just whatever they throw at me just be ready for it.”

Anthony Richardson had the most ill-timed yawn caught on camera after tap-out controversy

Should this really be a controversy?

OH NO ANTHONY RICHARDSON HOW COULD YOU YAWN ON THE SIDELINES OF A GAME YOU WEREN’T PLAYING?

That’s sarcasm font, in case you didn’t pick up on it. Because the benched Anthony Richardson was just standing on the sidelines of the Indianapolis Colts’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings, when NBC cameras cut to him yawning.

Why is that going viral? It’s because he tapped out of a play a few weeks ago before he was benched, and you NEVER see a quarterback tap out for a play because he was tired.

But that has nothing to do with yawning on the sidelines. Just poor timing!

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Jalen Hurts reacts to the benchings of young QBs; Lack of patience around NFL

Jalen Hurts reacts to the benchings of young quarterbacks; Lack of patience around NFL

Jalen Hurts was drafted in 2020 to be a backup quarterback in the NFL. Still, after his improvement and Carson Wentz’s benching, the former Oklahoma signal-caller has developed into one of the best in the league.

After an Eagles practice, Hurts recently shared his thoughts on the frequent benching of young quarterbacks (Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young) in the NFL and teams’ overall impatience with their development. He emphasized that the transition to the league can be incredibly challenging, with a steep learning curve that not all QBs can navigate immediately.

“I wasn’t supposed to be the guy I am today Hurts said via Zach Berman. Nobody expected that. But took advantage of my opportunity, and that’s what I encourage everyone to do regardless. I have a ton of respect for Tom Brady. And you hear him talk a lot of times, taking advantage of your moment. Typically there’s a different leash there, the earlier you’re picked. But nonetheless, nothing’s guaranteed and nothing’s promised. But you have to take advantage of every opportunity that comes.

“And sometimes, adversity builds the appropriate callouses for you to be able to forge a new path and withstand different storms that come your way.”

Over his first two seasons, Hurts had a 59% completion percentage with 4,063 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 1,056 rushing yards, and a Super Bowl appearance.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Hurts completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 3,858 yards and a career-high 23 touchdowns in 17 regular season games last season. He also added 15 rushing touchdowns, setting a new NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season, matching Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

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Colts name starting quarterback for Sunday against the Vikings

The Vikings now know who they will be facing on Sunday and it is not who others have played against when facing the Colts.

In a shocking turn of events, the Indianapolis Colts have named Joe Flacco the starting quarterback for Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Shane Steichen hinted that this was the move when he declined to commit to Anthony Richardson on Monday.

Richardson, the former first-round pick, has completed just 44.4% of his passes and asked to be subbed out for one play this past Sunday due to ‘being tired’. He has yet to complete more than 50% of his passes this season — something Viking fans would’ve loved to see on Sunday.

But instead, Minnesota will face veteran Joe Flacco. Last season, the Cleveland Browns turned to Flacco, who led the Browns to a 4-1 record down the stretch and into the playoffs. He is 1-1 with the Colts this season and threw for 359 yards and three scores against the Jaguars earlier in the year.

The Minnesota secondary will have to be up to standard on Sunday with Flacco at the helm.

Browns must take the chance on the Anthony Richardson revenge tour

You don’t give up on traits like this after effectively eight starts.

As the NFL trade deadline nears, the Cleveland Browns must be the team to call the Indianapolis Colts on their newly benched quarterback Anthony Richardson.

After drafting him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts are already moving Richardson to the bench for former Browns fan favorite Joe Flacco. This is on the heels of a loss to the Houston Texans and a rough start to his 2024 campaign after returning from a shoulder injury.

While many thought this would be a short-term benching after Richardson voluntarily subbed himself off the field, Colts head coach Shane Steichen has iterated that Flacco will start the rest of the season.

This means the Colts have no franchise quarterback and are effectively giving up on the highly talented Richardson. They are also tanking his trade value in the meantime as the NFL trade deadline nears.

The Browns must be on the phone about the quarterback who has the tools we have never seen before with Cam Newton being his closest athletic comparison. He has perhaps the strongest arm in the NFL, up there with Josh Allen. He runs a 4.43 40-yard dash.

Are there areas of his game that need to be worked on and improved? Absolutely. But if the cost is right, why shouldn’t the Browns be the ones go give him that time and space? The risk is well worth the reward.

If the Browns want to navigate their way out of the Deshaun Watson contract, they are going to have to do it with a quarterback on a cheap contract. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is not going to be that player. That is quite obvious.

The Browns could (and should bring back Jameis Winston on a similar deal in 2025 if he continues to play well. He will likely act as a bridge quarterback for either a rookie quarterback in 2025 or until the Browns draft a new young gunslinger in 2026.

Why couldn’t he be a bridge for Richardson, who is just 22 years old and has two years left on his contract (plus a potential fifth-year option), until he is ready to see the NFL field again? He has some issues to handle on his end with his accuracy and some off-season reworking on his upper body mechanics, but the tools are too good to give up on.

Besides, the 2025 NFL draft crop of quarterbacks is a subpar one. Outside of Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders there is not a quarterback that has proven worthy of being a first round pick. When looking at this crop of quarterbacks as well, Richardson is younger than Sanders, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, and is just three days older than Miami’s Cam Ward.

Trading a potential third round pick, a round where the Browns have picked up an extra selection after the trade of Amari Cooper, for Richardson is a far better option than using a first round pick on any of these rookie quarterbacks. It’s certainly better than trading up to get one if the Browns continue to win with Winston.

Could he have handled the situation where he subbed himself out for a play against the Houston Texans better? Absolutely. However, he is young and has effectively played just 20 games since high school.

The traits are simply too jarring to give up on in just this short amount of time after selecting him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

An Anthony Richardson revenge tour may just be on the horizon, and the Browns should be the one to host it.

Michael Pittman learned Joe Flacco was his new starting QB via social media because the Colts are doing great

Yes, why tell your top wideout his starting quarterback’s been benched?

Michael Pittman Jr., like the rest of the Indianapolis Colts’ offense, is going through a rough patch in 2024.

The big-bodied possession receiver has seen his numbers drop for the league’s 19th-ranked offense. His receptions per game are down from a career-best 6.8 in 2023 to just 3.6 this fall. His 41.5 percent success rate on targets is a career low by nearly 10 full points.

The culprit is an unstable passing game. Second year quarterback Anthony Richardson dialed up the kind of big downfield throws you’d want from a franchise quarterback, but completed just 44 percent of them to start the season. That led to a change before Week 9, making 38-year-old veteran Joe Flacco the team’s starter.

Pittman wasn’t given the chance to offer the Indianapolis coaching staff his thoughts about a potential switch before it happened. In fact, he didn’t even know Flacco was being elevated until he read about it on social media.

That’s a rough look for a team whose inconsistency has doomed it to a 4-4 record this fall. The Colts are very much in the playoff race, which is what justified the switch from the high ceiling, low floor passing of Richardson to the more stable Flacco. It still feels like something that should have been communicated to the team’s wideouts before it hit Twitter, however.