The Colts offense has thrived with Joe Flacco under center, but the wily veteran won't be taking Anthony Richardson's job.
Head coach Shane Steichen affirmed to reporters Monday that Richardson is the team's starting quarterback when healthy.
Questions surrounding Richardson's job status were floated after Flacco threw for a season-high 359 passing yards (33 of 44) with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first start on Sunday. Despite falling to the Jaguars, 37-34, the Colts also saw a season-high point total with Flacco at the helm.
Richardson missed Sunday's loss due to an oblique injury that stemmed from his early exit in Week 4. Flacco entered that game in the first quarter, completing 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards and two TDs (zero INTs) to maintain Indianapolis' lead and earn a win over the then-undefeated Steelers.
Richardson's second season has been plagued with accuracy and turnover issues in 13 quarters played. The former No. 4 overall pick has completed just 50.6 percent of his passes, amounting to 654 yards with three TDs and six INTs. He's also added 141 yards (one TD) on the ground but coughed up three fumbles, though all were recovered.
With the Colts offense putting up better numbers under Flacco, Steichen was asked Monday if he was trying to win football games or develop Richardson.
"We're trying to win football games," Steichen answered. "That's the bottom line. We're trying to win football games, and when Anthony's out there, obviously he makes a lot of big plays for us, and that's where it's at."
Jonathan Taylor, Indy's leading rusher (349 yards, four TDs), is also banged up with an ankle injury that forced him to miss Week 5. Steichen wouldn't make any declarations on Taylor and Richardson's impending returns for Week 6's road matchup against Tennessee.
"They're doing well," he said. "We'll see how the week goes. They're both feeling good, so we'll see how the week progresses."
Flacco has so far proven he has plenty of good ball in his 17th season. The 39-year-old won the AP Comeback Player of the Year after joining the Browns mid-season in 2023, leading Cleveland to a 4-1 record in five starts and forging an improbable wild-card berth in relief of an injured Deshaun Watson.
Steichen added that the Colts will ensure Richardson is healthy before returning to his starting role. Having Flacco as a backup could breathe patience into that process, however.
"Just making sure he feels really good with his body," Steichen said of his second-year QB. "Obviously, the medical staff, all those different things. But going through that process, the rehab, the practice, making sure he feels ready to go."
