On Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen insisted that his resolution 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 accountability for the second many imagine resulted in Flacco getting the nod for this Sunday night time’s matchup between 4-4 Indianapolis and the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings.
“Concerning that play, I do know I am unable to try this as a frontrunner, particularly as a quarterback of this workforce. Particularly as a soccer participant generally,” Richardson stated about tapping out towards Houston, as shared by Nick Shook of the NFL’s web site. “I am unable to simply deliver 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 recreation because of fatigue.
Being relegated to QB2 duties is simply the newest irritating improvement for the fourth total choose of the 2023 NFL Draft, who so far 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 along with his play.
In line with Professional Soccer Reference, Richardson started Wednesday ranked final within the NFL with a 57.2 passer score, a 32.4% passing success fee and a 44.4% completion share 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 subsequent couple of months rising and studying, as Steichen stated on Wednesday that Flacco will probably be his QB1 “going ahead.” Richardson could 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, positively do not need to be instructed I am not the man anymore for the upcoming week.”
