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Stephen Holder, ESPNOct 28, 2024, 03:31 PM ET
- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen said he’s “evaluating” the quarterback situation amid Anthony Richardson‘s recent struggles, but the coach indicated that Richardson’s surprising decision to ask out of Sunday’s game for a play late in the third quarter will not be a factor in his decision-making.
Richardson was 10-of-32 for 175 yards in Sunday’s loss at the Houston Texans, and the team’s offensive struggles have prompted Steichen to take a closer look ahead of their Sunday night matchup at Minnesota.
“We’re evaluating everything,” Steichen said when asked whether Richardson would start that game.
When pressed if Richardson was still the team’s starter, Steichen said, “Right now, today, he is, yes.”
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Joe Flacco, the Colts’ 39-year-old backup, went 1-1 in his two starts this season while Richardson rehabbed an oblique injury.
Richardson showed promise in four starts last season before landing on injured reserve and missing 12 games following shoulder surgery. However, his 44.4% completion rate this season is 15 percentage points lower than it was his rookie year and, according to ESPN Research, is the fifth worst in a player’s first six games of a season since 2000.
Steichen’s comments came one day after Richardson inexplicably took himself out of Sunday’s game for one play after back-to-back scrambles because he was “tired.”
Flacco came into the game while Richardson was out and handed off to running back Jonathan Taylor before the Colts settled for a field goal on fourth down.
Richardson said after the game that he told Steichen he “needed a break right there” as he left the game, tapping on his helmet.
“I was tired,” he said Sunday. “I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there. I didn’t think I was going to be able to go that next play.”
On Monday, Steichen did not defend Richardson’s decision.
“We had a conversation about it this morning in the quarterback room, which I’ll keep private,” Steichen said. “But, obviously, in those situations he knows on those type of deals, you can’t take yourself out and it’s a learned experience for him and he’s got to grow from it.”
Center Ryan Kelly, the longest-tenured Colts player on the current roster, also had a discussion with Richardson.
“I think he knows it’s not the standard that he needs to play up to and the rest of the team holds him to,” Kelly said. “And I’ll kind of leave the conversation that we had at that. I’m sure he’s going to take the criticism for that, rightfully so. I mean it’s a tough, tough look. But he’s out there giving it all for his team and it’s not always pretty sometimes.
“He’s giving it everything for his teammates. He’s young. I’m sure it’s a learning moment for him.”
Before subbing out of the game, Richardson had scrambled impressively on the previous two plays. On the play immediately preceding his departure, he shook off defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi with one arm as the defender attempted to drag Richardson to the ground.
Steichen and the Colts have repeatedly insisted that Richardson needs consistent playing time to develop. He’s started just 10 games since becoming the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft.
Asked about his current view of that philosophy, Steichen seemed less adamant.
“I think it could go either way,” Steichen said. “There’s certain [teams] that throw guys into the fire early and there’s other guys that let them sit back and watch. Like I’ve said before, the more you play, the more you learn at that position. But is there a benefit sometimes in sitting back and watching it? Yeah, of course there is.”
Richardson’s confidence, according to multiple teammates, hasn’t been affected by his struggles. They also said they need to do more to help mitigate his issues, which on Sunday were compounded by poor receiver play. Richardson was sacked a career-high five times and was hurt by one dropped touchdown pass and another where a receiver failed to get his feet in bounds.
“It’s a tough position. I think he’s handling it well,” receiver Alec Pierce said of Richardson. “It’s definitely a lot of pressure and I just want to let him know that we’ve all got his back and we’re here for him and we’re going to be better.”
