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Multiple anonymous sources within the Indianapolis Colts organization provided some insight this week into the logic behind the benching of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, some of Richardson’s teammates suggested Richardson was “naive,” and a team source added that head coach Shane Steichen benched him in order to get his attention.
In the game prior to Richardson’s benching, the Colts fell 23-20 to the AFC South rival Houston Texans, and Richardson completed just 10 of his 32 passing attempts.
Most memorably, Richardson pulled himself out of the game for a play at one point, and he admitted later that it was because he was winded, telling reporters: “I was tired. I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there. I didn’t think I was going to be able to go that next play, so I just told ShaneI just needed a break right there.”
Steichen said Richardson asking to come out of the game would not impact his decision on the quarterback situation, but the coach did announce he was benching Richardson in favor of veteran Joe Flacco two days after the game against Houston.
In Flacco’s two starts after being named the starter, the Colts went 0-2, and he threw two touchdown passes compared to four interceptions.
Following last week’s 30-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills, which dropped Indianapolis to 4-6 on the year, Steichen decided to go back to Richardson.
Now, the 22-year-old signal-caller, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, will go back to leading the Colts when they face the New York Jets on Sunday.
It has been a nightmarish sophomore season for Richardson, who is completing just 44.4 percent of his passes and has thrown four touchdowns and seven interceptions, but perhaps Steichen’s motivational tactics will lead to Richardson playing inspired football now that he has a new lease on life as the starter.
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