Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Wednesday, in announcing a switch at starting quarterback to veteran Joe Flacco from Anthony Richardson, emphasized his decision does not mean he's giving up on the 2023 No. 4 overall pick "by any means."
"We're not losing faith in him," Steichen said. "This will be a time for him to keep developing as a pro and we'll see where it goes."
Flacco will be the Colts' starting quarterback beginning with Sunday night's Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings and moving forward this season, Steichen said. While Steichen made the call to switch quarterbacks "in the best interest of our football team," he acknowledged it was a difficult decision, and was one that was tough on the 22-year-old Richardson.
"Any time you get that news, it's tough — I mean, to lose, you know, not be the starter anymore, it's tough," Steichen said. "But you know what, I think he's going to handle it the right way going forward, be a professional about it, grind, get ready, prepare like you're the starter because, shoot, he's still one play away."
Richardson indeed will back up Flacco, and though he admitted receiving the news from Steichen "hurt," he said his focus is on making sure he's as ready as possible if he's called upon to play again this season.
"I got a lot of confidence in myself, and I definitely believe I will have the opportunity to (start) again," Richardson said. "But as of right now, we got games to focus on right now and I gotta step into my role and take advantage of it."
With this week's change, though, the Colts want Richardson to sit back and observe what Flacco, a 17-year veteran, does as the team's starting quarterback. Richardson said he's reflecting on "things I could've done better for the team," and his goal going forward is to "lock in" on preparation and leadership.
"I think this is going to be a great learning experience for all of us, for him," Steichen said, "and just continue to develop in a different way with the preparation stuff and seeing a guy like Joe Flacco's that's been doing it at a high level."
"I'm using this moment as an opportunity to grow and just learn from my mistakes," Richardson said.
Richardson said he understands tapping out of a game – as he did on Sunday against the Houston Texans for a play – is something he "can't do as a leader, especially as the quarterback of this team and as a football player in general," though Steichen said that moment did not factor in his decision to change quarterbacks. Richardson this season has completed 44.4 percent of his passes for 958 yards with four touchdowns, seven interceptions, a passer rating of 57.2 and 242 rushing yards on 41 attempts.
"With any young player, it does take time to develop and we go through that process week in and week out, and that's where it's at," Steichen said. "This is going to be a great learning experience for him just to keep developing in a different way. But like I said, not giving up on him by any means."
