At this stage of his career, veteran Joe Flacco has developed a knack for stellar play in relief of starting quarterbacks. But there’s no quarterback controversy in Indianapolis, according to Colts coach Shane Steichen.
Following the Colts’ 37-34 road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Steichen said Anthony Richardson is the team’s QB1 whenever he is healthy.
“Yes, he is our starting quarterback,” Steichen said.
Richardson sat out Week 5 with an oblique injury suffered the week before against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts also played the game in Jacksonville without top running back Jonathan Taylor, yet they scored 34 points thanks in large part to Flacco.
The former Super Bowl champion with Baltimore completed 33 of 44 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He connected with Alec Pierce for a 65-yard touchdown that tied the game with 2:40 to play before the Jaguars drove to the game-winning field goal.
After an 11-year stay with the Ravens and one unmemorable season with the Denver Broncos, Flacco served as a backup for the New York Jets for parts of three seasons. He led them to a comeback win in a 2022 game against the Cleveland Browns while Zach Wilson was hurt, then turned around and joined Cleveland the next year, guiding the team to a 4-1 record in five starts while it dealt with QB injuries.
Flacco, 39, relieved Richardson early in the Week 4 tilt against Pittsburgh and threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-26 passing.
But Richardson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft and is expected to be Indianapolis’ franchise quarterback. He has been limited to eight NFL games (all starts) due to injuries, including a throwing shoulder injury last season that led him to undergo AC joint surgery in October.
“We are trying to win football games,” Steichen said. “That’s the bottom line. We are trying to win football games. Obviously, when Anthony is out there, he makes a lot of big plays for us. That’s where it’s at.”
The Colts (2-3) visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 6.