The Indianapolis Colts have benched Anthony Richardson. Earlier this week, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Joe Flacco will start in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings and will be the team’s quarterback going forward.
Many were surprised by the decision, as Richardson has played only 10 games in his NFL career. However, former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel thinks the Colts made the right decision.
Chase Daniel Defends Colts Benching Anthony Richardson
In a conversation on Fox Sports’ The Facility, Daniel mentioned how poorly Richardson has played this season, which warranted his benching.
“This league is not a developmental league. This league, specifically, is not a QB developmental league,” said Daniel. “We give up on quarterbacks too fast, too early, too soon… Anthony Richardson has been bad.”
Daniel further mentioned that Richardson ranks last in the league in completion percentage (44.4), touchdown-to-interception ratio (4:7), passer rating (57.2), and 30th in passing yards per game with 159.7.
“So, that’s the reason he got benched, and it should be a blessing in disguise,” added the former Chargers quarterback. “It’s all going to fall on Anthony Richardson for how he handles this situation. But to mention the Colts, three of their next four games are teams currently three games over .500. They play a gauntlet of teams, and this tells me that the Indianapolis Colts think they are a lot closer than a lot of people think…”
“Anthony Richardson has been bad. The Colts had no choice but to bench him.”
— @ChaseDaniel pic.twitter.com/Bylt1omzIB
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) October 31, 2024
The Colts have not lost a game this season by more than six points. At this moment, having Flacco in the quarterback position is better for the team, as the veteran quarterback will not commit silly turnovers and will be able to make simple throws, which Richardson was not consistent at.
Flacco has thrown for 716 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception in four appearances this season. He is completing 65.7% of his throws, which is more than 21% better than the second-year quarterback.
Due to Stefon Diggs’ season-ending ACL injury, reducing the Houston Texans’ formidability. The Colts think that they can win the AFC South with Flacco as their quarterback, even if it comes at the expense of Richardson’s development.
What’s Next for Richardson?
Getting benched does not mean that Richardson is without a Colts future. Spending time being Flacco’s backup could turn out to be a much-needed sabbatical for Richardson, as the 22-year-old quarterback can learn a lot by working behind the scenes.
Richardson did not play much in college and was thrown straight into the fire in the NFL. The former fourth overall pick could utilize this time to become a better leader, learn to protect himself, and see how Flacco operates on the field.
Sitting behind a veteran has often proved to be successful in the NFL, as evidenced by Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love. The Colts are unlikely to enter into trade offers for Richardson as the Florida product has immense potential, and Steichen could get the best out of him.
Since the franchise is in a win-now mode, it will be better for Richardson to be the backup, as it will relieve the pressure on him. Hopefully, he’ll be the Colts’ Week 1 starter next season, as the fans have high hopes for him.
If the Colts make Richardson available for trade, a team like the New York Giants would definitely be interested in him. Brian Daboll, during his time in Buffalo, worked wonders with Josh Allen, a player who Richardson has often been compared to.