The Colts have released some information on why they benched Anthony Richardson.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Colts coach Shane Steichen is elevating veteran Joe Flacco to the quarterback role and that Richardson will be demoted for Sunday night’s game against the Vikings.
ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder shed some light on the team’s decision.
“They want Richardson to take a step back, take a break from the pressures of the job and try to grow in the moment.” Holder wrote in X.
“This is obviously different than what was said before, when the consensus was that he should play and learn on the job.”
Holder added that Richardson was “very devastated” by the decision.
Richardson, 22, was drafted fourth overall in last year’s NFL draft out of Florida.
Because of injuries, he had just 10 career NFL starts, so he wasn’t exactly given the long leash one would expect from an owner that must have entered into the arrangement knowing there were growing pains.
“We are not leaving Anthony. That would be the story, but it’s not,” a source told Holder.
Still, Richardson conceded that he was out of last Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Texans, choked by a brief spell where alternate-position NFL quarterbacks missed throws that should have been completed and the Colts were in danger of losing. locker room if they don’t switch to Flacco’s consistent arm.
Flacco has appeared in four games with two starts for the Colts this season and has thrown for 716 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception.
Last season, the 39-year-old enjoyed a career renaissance with the Browns, joining the team off the couch midseason.
The Browns went 4-1 in his start and made the playoffs as Flacco won the AP Rebound Player of the Year.
