Colts pivot back to Anthony Richardson vs. Vikings
After suffering their third straight loss, the Indianapolis Colts are turning back to rookie quarter Anthony Richardson as the starter.
“He’s going to start this week,” head coach Shane Steichen said via ESPN. “He will start the rest of the season. And we will go from there.”
The decision to go back to Richardson comes after the Colts suffered losses in the last two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, with him benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco.
Indianapolis was hopeful that Flacco could recapture some of the magic he had last season with the Cleveland Browns that saw him lead the franchise to the playoffs. Instead, he struggled over the last two games, throwing four interceptions while being sacked seven times.
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The Colts’ three-game skid has them sitting two games behind the division-leading Houston Texans. Richardson now holds the reins for the rest of the season, and he believes the benching may provide him the extra motivational lift to guide Indianapolis forward.
“I think these two weeks have definitely opened my eyes and allowed me to take a deeper dive and look into myself and see what I’m made of,” Richardson said. “So, I’m thankful for these past two weeks and I’m low-key thankful that it happened.”
His first challenge back in the saddle will be on the road against the New York Jets, who are fading fast out of the playoff picture after dropping six out of their last seven games.
It’s an opportunity for Richardson and the Colts to get back on track against a struggling opponent.
