Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson has been left ‘pretty devastated’ by his team’s stunning decision to bench him.
The Colts, 4-4 and 2nd in the AFC South, announced that Joe Flacco, 39, was being elevated up into Richardson’s role as starting QB after Sunday’s narrow 23-20 loss to Houston Texans.
Richardson caused outrage during that game when he appeared to ‘tap out’ on a key third-and-goal in the third quarter, later telling reporters that he was tired.
And, ESPN’s Colts reporter Stephen Holder says Richardson is upset at losing his place.
‘They want Richardson to take a step back, take a break from the pressures of the job and try to grow during this time,’ Holder explained on X.
Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson is said to be ‘pretty devastated’ at being benched
Joe Flacco, 39, will instead be the play-caller for the Colts after Richardson’s controversy
‘That is obviously different than what was said previously, when the consensus was that he should play and learn on the job.’
Holder continued: ‘And, if you’re wondering, I was told Richardson was pretty devastated by the news, as you’d expect. But he’ll be a pro. No one is concerned about that part.’
Flacco has played in three NFL games so far this season, engineering two wins over the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even in the one loss – to the Jaguars – he threw for 359 yards and impressed.
The 22-year-old Richardson was picked fourth by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft but only played up to Week 5, when he sustained a shoulder injury against the Titans that ruled him out for the season.
Pat McAfee slammed Richardson for opting out of Sunday’s game for a moment.
The former Colts player wrote on X: ‘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.’
Many fans concurred.
Former Colts punter Pat McAfee (pictured) took issue with Richardson ‘tapping out’
He took to X to claim that Richardson’s decision sends a ‘loud and influential message’
‘I’m done with this experiment,’ wrote one. ‘He’s not the answer Pat. Even if he was, there is no way he could be healthy a full season.’
Richardson revealed his reasoning for his exit in his postgame press conference.
‘Tired, I ain’t gonna lie,’ he told the media. ‘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 (HC Shane Steichen) I needed a break right there.’
Richardson’s day wasn’t much better otherwise. He completed only 10 of 32 passes, and while he did connect with Josh Downs on a 69-yard touchdown, the former Florida star also had an interception and two fumbles as well.
The Colts play the Minnesota Vikings next on Sunday night in the NFL.
