Anthony Richardson hasn’t exactly looked like a superstar this season. And because of that, some fans would like to see the Indianapolis Colts quarterback benched and replaced by backup Joe Flacco. While Richardson has struggled, it’s way too early to throw in the towel. He needs time to learn and develop.
The Carolina Panthers recently benched QB Bryce Young. Carolina is 2-16 with him as their starter. It’s the worst record through 18 games of any quarterback drafted No. 1 overall in the Super Bowl era. Young has a 9.1 Total QBR this season, which is one of the worst in history for consecutive games.
With that said, it’s not shocking that the Panthers chose to bench Young. Meanwhile, Richardson has only played seven games in his career so far. It would be foolish to bench him right now.
Sorry Colts Fans, it’s Not Time For Joe Flacco Yet
Joe Flacco, the Reigning Comeback Player of the Year
The Colts signed Flacco this past offseason. He replaced Gardner Minshew, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Flacco is currently in his 17th NFL season. He, of course, is known for his 11-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens. The 2008 first-round pick was named MVP of Super Bowl XLVII.
Flacco won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award last year. Making five late-season starts, he helped lead the injury-plagued Cleveland Browns to the playoffs.
It’s unclear what type of impact Flacco would make if he started over Richardson. Perhaps he could help power the Colts to a winning campaign, sort of like Minshew did last season. Flacco is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, but the Colts need to keep Richardson as a starter as he continues to learn the pro game. He needs as many reps as he can get.
Be Patient With Anthony Richardson
The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023. He was supposed to emerge as the team’s best quarterback since Andrew Luck retired. However, he would play only four games as a rookie due to injury. Thankfully, Richardson has managed to stay healthy this season.
Richardson has made a few breathtaking plays this year. His crazy 60-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce is a great example. He’s also made some impressive plays with his legs. However, he’s thrown several horrible passes. He has recorded six interceptions this season, including three against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.
Fans need to remember, though, that not every superstar quarterback had a legendary start to their career. People tend to forget that Peyton Manning led the league in interceptions (28) as a rookie. Plus, it took three years for Josh Allen to become an elite NFL quarterback.
Colts fans love to reminisce about the days when Manning and Luck were in town. While Anthony Richardson may never be as great as either of those two, he could certainly become a superstar down the road. He needs to stay healthy and work a lot on his accuracy. Fans just need to be patient. It’s not time for Joe Flacco to take over. It’s time for Anthony Richardson to stay put and continue to improve.
Main Image: Jeff Hanisch – USA Today Sports
