On Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen insisted that his choice to bench beginning quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of backup Joe Flacco had nothing to do with Richardson going to the sidelines for one play throughout this previous Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans as a result of the second-year professional was “drained.”
Richardson later accepted duty for the second many imagine resulted in Flacco getting the nod for this Sunday evening’s matchup between 4-4 Indianapolis and the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings.
“Relating to that play, I do know I am unable to do this as a frontrunner, particularly as a quarterback of this crew. Particularly as a soccer participant usually,” Richardson stated about tapping out towards Houston, as shared by Nick Shook of the NFL’s web site. “I am unable to simply carry myself out of the sport like that, particularly in key moments like that. However you reside and also you be taught. Simply gotta develop from it.”
A number of former NFL gamers publicly ripped Richardson for exiting a sport as a result of fatigue.
Being relegated to QB2 duties is simply the most recent irritating improvement for the fourth total choose of the 2023 NFL Draft, who to date has made simply 10 profession regular-season begins and who was previously labeled by some as “injury-prone” earlier than he left a lot to be desired together with his play.
Based on Professional Soccer Reference, Richardson started Wednesday ranked final within the NFL with a 57.2 passer ranking, a 32.4% passing success fee and a 44.4% completion proportion on the season. He indicated on Wednesday that he’ll use the benching “as a possibility to develop and be taught from [his] errors.”
It seems Richardson may spend the following couple of months rising and studying, as Steichen stated on Wednesday that Flacco shall be his QB1 “going ahead.” Richardson might not take one other significant snap this season so long as Flacco stays wholesome and performs in addition to he did with the Cleveland Browns throughout the 2023 marketing campaign.
“Of course it hurts,” Richardson added in regards to the benching. “As a competitor, undoubtedly do not need to be advised I am not the man anymore for the upcoming week.”
