The Indianapolis Colts will need to navigate Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars without their starting quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson has been ruled out for this contest and backup quarterback Joe Flacco will start the game.
This news isn’t overly surprising as Flacco has been taking first-team reps for the last part of the week in practice. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the news on social media.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson officially is inactive today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2024
Flacco looked good last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers after he entered the game once Richardson left with an injury. He threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns to help the Colts grab their first win of the new season.
The veteran has been continuing to keep his career alive with his strong play on the field. Last season, he took over after Deshaun Watson suffered an injury with the Cleveland Browns and helped to lead them to a postseason appearance.
The former Super Bowl champion brings a different dynamic to the Colts’ offense, giving them more of a typical passing quarterback. Richardson can sling the ball but he has also had some issues this season.
For the season, Richardson has thrown for 654 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also been fairly turnover-prone, which isn’t a great sign for any young quarterback.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 29: Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Richardson is out for Week 5.
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
His completion percentage ranks last in the NFL, coming in at just 50.6 percent. Richardson also hasn’t shown that he can be effective with a clean pocket, completing passes at a 53 percent rate this season.
The injury to Richardson has also brought up the narrative of him being injury-prone. He missed time last season due to injury after playing in just four games.
However, the young signal-caller pushed back on that narrative. He calls the injuries just football.
“I mean, it’s football,” Richardson said, via Pro Football Talk. “I’m pretty sure if they got out of the house and came out here and got hit by somebody that’s running 20-plus miles per hour every week, I’m pretty sure they’d be sore dealing with injuries as well.
“People are going to talk. That’s what people do. I’m not necessarily worried about it, I’m just trying to focus on getting better day by day.”
Whatever the case is, Flacco will have his hands full in this game. Star running back Jonathan Taylor has been ruled out due to an ankle injury so the veteran will be relied upon even more.
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