Indianapolis Colts make huge Anthony Richardson call after honest admission

Anthony Richardson has been benched by the with Joe Flacco stepping up as the starting quarterback for Sunday's primetime clash against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Colts are currently 4-4 and still in contention for a playoff spot, but second-year QB Richardson's performance has been far from convincing. With a completion percentage of just 44.4 per cent across six starts this season, Richardson ranks as the worst in the .

His average of 159.7 yards per game also places him in the bottom third of quarterbacks, and he has thrown a mere four touchdowns compared to seven interceptions. These lacklustre performances have led head coach Shane Steichen to make a significant change, elevating one-time Super Bowl champion Flacco to the starting lineup.

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Flacco has featured in four games so far this season, throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception. The former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns quarterback guided the Colts to victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans before Richardson returned to the lineup following an oblique injury.

Richardson did himself no favours in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans, removing himself from the game while his offense was in the redzone. His coaches were concerned about another injury, but the 2023 No.4 overall pick claimed it was due to fatigue.

"Tired, I ain't gonna lie," he conceded. "That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I didn't think I was gonna be able to go that next play. So, I just told [Steichen] I needed a break right there."

The brutally honest moment drew sharp commentary from past players such as Colts icon Pat McAfee, who aired his views on X, saying: "I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson. The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential."

When asked on Monday about the quarterback situation, Steichen acknowledged that the team was "evaluating everything", hinting at a possible shift in position. True to his word, he has swiftly shifted focus towards Flacco's known accuracy and composure.

Despite Richardson's standout ability to run and his impressive athleticism making him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in terms of physical capability, the young talent from Florida has yet to develop the refined skill set required for steadfast leadership as an NFL starter.