The Indianapolis Colts are giving Anthony Richardson another shot to redeem himself after a lackluster 2024 NFL season so far. However, not everyone’s convinced it’s the right move.
Richardson was initially benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco by Colts head coach Shane Steichen. However, Steichen has reversed course now. He has named the second-year quarterback the starter for the remainder of the season.
Emmanuel Acho Doesn’t Like Colts’ U-Turn Concerning Anthony Richardson
This sudden pivot left Fox Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho shaking his head. “It was an impulse decision,” Acho said, calling out Steichen’s lack of long-term planning.
The Colts faced top teams like the Vikings and Bills in the last two weeks and lost both. Acho believes they set themselves up for failure by relying on the 39-year-old Flacco, only to switch back to Richardson after inevitable losses. “Did you not realize that maybe Joe Flacco will possibly lose to two of the six best teams in the National Football League?”
Acho, a former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, said the initial benching made no sense. “If you were going to go back to Anthony Richardson after two losses, you probably shouldn’t have benched him in the first place,” he argued.
Acho continued, “So, to me, it’s just a sign of not preparing for the future. It was an impulse decision… To go back to Anthony Richardson looked like it was an impulse decision, and to me, it looks like a coach who had no idea about what was coming around the corner.”
.@EmmanuelAcho reacts to the Colts going back to Anthony Richardson as the starter for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/OMpyokFtkT
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) November 13, 2024
Steichen’s spur-of-the-moment decision to bench Richardson last week was not totally unfounded.
His output this season has been shaky at best, marked by a league-low 44.4% completion rate and seven interceptions.
What Happened Between Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson?
Steichen said about the decision to bench Richardson, “The classrooms, the walkthroughs, the practice, the weight room, all those little things just got to be at a higher standard. That’s what was talked about and that’s where we went with it…”
However, struggles left aside, his physical abilities keep him an intriguing option, one that other teams reportedly inquired about at the trade deadline. But one thing that was fixed in the minds of the Colts’ front office was that trading Richardson was never really on the table. About his change of mind, the Colts HC stated:
“Over the last two weeks, he’s made strides in those areas. Big-time strides. Becoming a pro’s pro. Is he a finished product? No. He’s not. It’s my job to help him get there along with the rest of the coaching staff. We’ve never lost faith or belief in him or his abilities,” Steichen continued.
Shane Steichen: "(Anthony Richardson) will start this week and he will start the rest of the season" #Colts pic.twitter.com/A5upn6gSns
— Dave Griffiths (@DaveG_Sports) November 13, 2024
As the Colts prepare to move forward with Richardson, questions loom about whether this flip-flopping will impact his development or whether the Colts have a true plan for their young quarterback.