Tag: Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) sits on the sideline Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts prep Anthony Richardson for full-blown QB competition

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Call it a competition.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that Anthony Richardson must compete for and win the quarterback job if he wants to remain the starter in Indianapolis in 2025. Given Richardson is the only QB under contract, the Colts will be bringing in the competitors this offseason.

“We’ve had good conversations,” Ballard said. “Anthony accepted all of it. He understands there needs to be some growth in his work. That’s the one thing I’m really proud of him about. There’s no deferring or defenseness. He’s like, ‘I know, I’ve got to go to work.’”

Richardson, 22, enters his third NFL season with 15 games under his belt, a 50.6 completion percentage, 11 TD passes, 10 rushing touchdowns, 13 interceptions and 12 fumbles four lost).

The flashes of stardom are impossible to ignore, but not enough for Ballard and the Colts to keep the 2023 No. 4 overall pick on a pedestal at the position.

“I don’t want to say naive when he first came into the league, but he was a little naive,” Ballard said. “I think you saw spurts of it: he’s really competitive. I think for a six-game stretch there, we saw some really special stuff out of him. Now we’ve just got to get consistent. He’s a really good dude. He cares. And I think we’ll put the work in.

“I know we all want Superman every week, every day. His background when he came into the league when we took him, it is what it is. We’ve got to work through that.”

Richardson can fling the ball 65 yards without straining, but hitting a moving target is another story. He completed 47.7 percent of his passes in 2024, historically bad from an accuracy perspective and easily the worst among starters. He had 10 or fewer completions in six of the 11 games he appeared in last season.

Richardson is training in Florida and Ballard said the QB is focused on improving ball placement and touch. The Colts won’t see the results until minicamp, but Ballard is optimistic about the reveal.

“I think we’re going to see a good version,” Ballard said.

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) draws back to making his first pass of the game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The pass was intercepted and run back for a touchdown by Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (7).

Colts sticking with QB Joe Flacco vs. Jets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts will stick with Joe Flacco at quarterback for at least this Sunday’s game at the New York Jets.

Coach Shane Steichen confirmed Flacco will remain the starter on Monday, one day after the 39-year-old threw three interceptions in a 30-20 home loss to Buffalo that dropped Indianapolis to 4-6.

The Colts have now lost three consecutive games, beginning with a Week 8 loss at Houston in which second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson briefly removed himself from the game for being tired. Flacco started the following week against Minnesota and has thrown for 451 yards over the past two games.

However, Indianapolis has lost both while Flacco has committed six turnovers.

“Joe’s a veteran guy,” Steichen said when explaining his decision to stick with Flacco for a third consecutive week. “He’s had two games that he’d want back. But again, he goes out there, throws some good passes. Obviously, the interceptions, there’s three of those. There’s two that he’d want back.

“Again, you stick with it, you grind through it. The process of this whole thing, it really is a process. We’re going through that process right now. Right now, Joe’s still our guy.”

Following the Jets game, the Colts play host to Detroit before traveling to New England ahead of their bye week. Indianapolis is only two games behind Houston in the standings, but has already lost both meetings against the Texans this season.

Flacco played for the Jets from 2020-22, and Sunday will present a matchup against 40-year-old counterpart Aaron Rodgers.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Richardson remains the backup, having played in only 10 career NFL games. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, he is last in the NFL in completion percentage at 44.4 percent with seven interceptions.

“You’ve gotta go through the process every single day,” Steichen said when asked where things stand with Richardson. “And that’s where it’s at. He’s a great person, phenomenal human being.

“Not ever losing faith or trust in him. We’re going through a process right now, and that’s where it’s at.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) tackles Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Colts sticking with Joe Flacco as QB1 in Week 11

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Joe Flacco keeps the job as QB1 of the Colts for “right now” despite the Indianapolis offense scoring six points at Minnesota on Sunday night.

Flacco started in the primetime loss to the Vikings after replacing Anthony Richardson, a move the Colts made official five days before the trip to Minneapolis. Flacco completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards with one interception in the 21-13 loss that dropped the Colts to 4-5 this season.

Head coach Shane Steichen appraised the performance of Flacco as “fine” late Sunday night after declaring last week that the 39-year-old gave the team the best chance to win going forward.

“Credit to Minnesota. They do a lot of good things. But again, I’m the head coach. Everything that’s on that field, my name’s on it,” Steichen said.

The Colts did not run a play in the red zone in the game and running back Jonathan Taylor matched his season low with 48 rushing yards. He chalked up the loss to losing more third downs than they won offensively. Indianapolis was 3 of 11 on third downs.

“You definitely don’t want to be 4-5, but we got the pieces — if you look at the roster, we have the pieces,” Taylor said. “But for us, offensively, we got to stay on the field. We gotta find ways to stay on the field.”

Up next for Indianapolis is a home date with the Buffalo Bills (7-2) before a return to “Sunday Night Football” against the Jets. If Flacco remains in the lineup Week 12, it sets up a matchup of the almost-40 quarterback (his birthday is Jan. 16) and 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers at New York (3-6). Flacco played for the Jets from 2020-22.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) walks on the field after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Report: Colts bench QB Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts are benching former first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson and turning to 39-year-old Joe Flacco, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

On Monday, Colts head coach Shane Steichen was non-committal when asked if Richardson would start in Week 9.

“We’re evaluating everything,” Steichen said as the Colts (4-4) began their preparations for Sunday night’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings (5-2).

The coaching staff met on Tuesday morning and made the “seismic organizational decision to change QBs,” ESPN reported.

Richardson completed only 10 of 32 passes (31.3 percent) for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the host Houston Texans.

During the third quarter, Richardson made the unusual move of taking himself out of the game in the middle of a Colts drive. He later explained that he needed a breather after scrambling on several plays.

“Tired, I ain’t gonna lie,” said Richardson, 22. “That was a lot of running right there that I did. … So, I just told Shane that I needed a break right there.”

Richardson, who missed Weeks 5 and 6 with an oblique injury, has completed just 44.4 percent of his passes for 958 yards with four TDs and seven interceptions in six games this season.

Drafted No. 4 overall in 2023 out of Florida, Richardson’s rookie season ended after just four games due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Flacco was 1-1 in two starts earlier this month against Jacksonville and Tennessee. He has completed 65.7 percent of his passes this season for 716 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception.

Flacco is 104-83 as an NFL starter with the Baltimore Ravens (2008-18), Denver Broncos (2019), New York Jets (2020-22), Cleveland Browns (2023) and Colts. He has thrown for 44,652 yards with 252 TDs and 156 INTs. He was the MVP of Baltimore’s 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars edged the Colts on a field goal 37-34. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Colts’ Joe Flacco to start vs. Titans

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco will receive his second straight start in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn.

Flacco is getting the nod against the Titans with Anthony Richardson serving as the emergency quarterback behind Sam Ehlinger. Richardson practiced all week but still is working his way past an oblique injury he sustained in the Colts’ 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 29.

Flacco completed 33 of 44 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns in Indianapolis’ 37-34 setback to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday.

The Colts (2-3) did not rule out Michael Pittman Jr. despite multiple reports noting that the wide receiver would miss several weeks with a back injury.

Pittman, 27, has led Indianapolis in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. He has a club-best 22 catches for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season after signing a three-year, $70 million extension in March.

In addition to star running back Jonathan Taylor, the Colts listed the following players as inactive: defensive end Genard Avery, wide receiver Anthony Gould and center Danny Pinter.

The Titans (1-3) listed the following players as inactive: linebackers Caleb Murphy and James Williams, tight ends David Martin-Robinson and Thomas Odukoya, defensive lineman Keondre Coburn and offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Colts QB Anthony Richardson inactive vs. Jaguars

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Veteran Joe Flacco will be under center on Sunday against the host Jacksonville Jaguars after the Indianapolis Colts ruled fellow quarterback Anthony Richardson inactive for the game.

Richardson was a limited participant in practice all week after sustaining an oblique injury in the Colts’ 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. He was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on Saturday.

Flacco replaced Richardson last Sunday and completed 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns to preserve the win.

The Colts (2-2) also listed the following players as inactive: star running back Jonathan Taylor, offensive tackle Blake Freeland, wide receiver Anthony Gould, center Ryan Kelly, cornerback Kenny Moore II and defensive end Kwity Paye.

The Jaguars (0-4) will play their third consecutive game without tight end Evan Engram. He sustained a hamstring injury prior to Jacksonville’s game against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 15.

Engram, 30, had career-high totals in catches (114) and receiving yards (963) to go along with four touchdowns in 17 starts last season. The two-time Pro Bowl selection was limited to just one catch in the Jaguars’ 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1.

Jacksonville also listed the following players out for Sunday’s game: safety Daniel Thomas, linebacker Yasir Abdullah, defensive end Myles Cole, defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson and offensive linemen Javon Foster and Cole Van Lanen.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass in the second quarter of the NFL preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

NFL preseason roundup: Colts’ Anthony Richardson struggles in win over Bengals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Anthony Richardson threw a first-quarter touchdown pass and the Indianapolis reserves scored 17 fourth-quarter points in the Colts’ 27-14 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati to wrap up the preseason for both teams.

Richardson led the Colts (2-1) down the field 80 yards on his first series, hitting Adonai Mitchell with a 9-yard scoring pass. But the second-year quarterback, who is coming back from a shoulder injury that ended his rookie season after five games, struggled the rest of the way against the Bengals. He completed 8 of 14 passes for 86 yards and also threw an interception that Jordan Battle returned 14 yards for a touchdown.

Demetric Felton rattled off a 40-yard TD run with 1:41 left in the game to cap a fourth quarter that also saw the Colts get a 1-yard TD from Jason Bean and a 41-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader.

Logan Woodside hit 16 of 21 passes for 98 yards and a 21-yard touchdown to Jermaine Burton for the Bengals (0-3).

Bears 34, Chiefs 21

Velus Jones Jr. ran for 111 yards and a touchdown as Chicago easily handled Kansas City in a preseason battle of backups.

The Bears (4-0) led 34-7 after Jones scored on a 39-yard run at the end of the third quarter. Tyson Bagent and Carson Steele each had short TD runs, and Reddy Steward returned an interception 48 yards for a score. Chicago safety Douglas Coleman III was taken off the field in an ambulance after he was hurt making a tackle on the first play of the second half.

Ian Book threw two fourth-quarter TD passes for the Chiefs (0-3).

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Colts QB Anthony Richardson to IR, out four games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts placed Anthony Richardson on injured reserve Wednesday, a move that will have the rookie quarterback missing at least the next four games.

Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, sustained a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder in the second quarter of Sunday’s 23-16 win against the Tennessee Titans.

Richardson has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 577 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in four starts. He has also rushed 25 times for 136 yards and four scores.

Gardner Minshew will be under center Sunday when the Colts (3-2) visit the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2). The earliest Richardson can return is the Week 10 game at New England on Nov. 12.

The Colts made several other moves Wednesday, including signing guard Ike Boettger to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Indianapolis also signed wide receiver Anthony Miller and quarterback Kellen Mond to the practice squad and released wideout Juwann Winfree from the practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Colts QB Anthony Richardson still in concussion protocol

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson remains in concussion protocol as of Monday afternoon, Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen said.

Richardson and starting center Ryan Kelly, who’s also in the protocol, must participate in a non-contact and a contact practice in order to be cleared from the protocol ahead of Week 4’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

Steichen does not yet know if Richardson will return when practice resumes Wednesday.

Richardson, the fourth overall pick in April’s draft, was named the Colts’ No. 1 quarterback during training camp. He suffered the concussion in Week 2 against the Houston Texans.

Gardner Minshew started Week 3 for Indianapolis (2-1) at the Baltimore Ravens and completed 27 of 44 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in the Colts’ 22-19 overtime win.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (10) speaks with media Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, after fellow quarterback Anthony Richardson was named the starter.

Colts QB Gardner Minshew in line to start vs. Ravens

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew is in line to start this weekend after rookie Anthony Richardson sat out practice for the third consecutive day on Friday due to a concussion.

Minshew likely will be under center for the Colts (1-1) on Sunday against the host Baltimore Ravens (2-0).

Also on Friday, three-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly did not participate in practice.

Minshew, 27, relieved Richardson in Indianapolis’ 31-20 victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday and completed 19 of 23 passes for 171 yards. He also tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Kylen Granson.

Richardson, the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, was forced out of last Sunday’s contest for the second time in two career games when he absorbed a hard hit.

The Colts led the Texans 14-0 behind two Richardson TD runs when he left to be evaluated for a concussion. He was assisted to the sideline in the final minute of the game after trying to run the ball in for a score in a 31-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 10.

Richardson, 21, is 30-of-47 passing for 279 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also has 13 carries for 75 yards and three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media