Why Is Anthony Richardson Benched? NFL QB Switch Explained

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As a lifelong football fan with decades of experience watching the NFL’s ebb and flow, I must say the decision to bench Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco by the Indianapolis Colts has left me rather perplexed. While I understand the frustration of below-average stats and struggles on the field, it seems a bit premature to make such a drastic move so early in the season.

Surprisingly, Quarterback Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts has been replaced by veteran Joe Flacco ahead of Week 9 in the 2024 NFL season. This information comes from reports by NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, as well as ESPN. Coach Shane Steichen has made this decision for reasons explained below.

Why has Colts QB Anthony Richardson been benched for Joe Flacco?

In simpler terms, Anthony Richardson has been taken out of the game this season because his performance has not been impressive enough compared to other players in the 2024 NFL season.

In the year 2024, the second-year quarterback managed a 44.4% completion rate during his initial six matches, a figure that ranks as the fifth-lowest among players starting their seasons since 2020, based on ESPN statistics.

As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Colts’ coaching team deliberated over the issue on Tuesday morning and ultimately decided to replace Richardson with Flacco following their meeting.

In a contentious move, Richardson temporarily withdrew from the Colts game against the Texans on October 27 for just one play. Following the match, he explained through NFL.com that he was “fatigued” as he had been “expending a lot of energy,” and thus believed he wouldn’t have sufficient strength to continue with the next play.

Nevertheless, a significant portion of the 23-20 defeat against the Texans can be attributed to Richardson’s less-than-stellar passing game. In this match, he successfully completed just 10 out of 32 passes. He managed to throw only one touchdown and had a costly interception as well.

On Monday, Steichen shared that he had a personal talk with Richardson regarding his decision to step out of the game. He expressed that Richardson needs to learn and grow from this situation.

Towards the end of September, Richardson got hurt on his hip during a match with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thankfully, he came back to play after missing two games against the Miami Dolphins. However, it’s uncertain for how long Richardson might be out or how long Joe Flacco will step in as his replacement.

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2024-10-29 23:42