Anthony Richardson‘s out and Joe Flacco‘s up.
Richardson is inactive for the Indianapolis Colts’ Sunday tilt against the host Jacksonville Jaguars, thereby handing the starting reins to the veteran Flacco.
Richardson, who was designated as questionable on Friday, injured his hip during a Week 4 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and was optimistic of playing against the Jags, but the Colts might be erring on the side of caution with their 22-year-old franchise quarterback.
Richardson will miss the 14th game of his career out of a possible 22. As a rookie, he missed games due to a concussion and a shoulder injury that landed him on injured reserve to end his 2023 campaign.
Flacco is now set to start for his fifth NFL club. He spent 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, which included winning the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP. Thereafter, he played for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, whom he came off the couch to rescue last season, helping the squad to the playoffs and winning AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts.
Flacco looked to be in 2023 form in Week 4 for the Colts, coming on in relief of Richardson and throwing for 168 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a staunch Steelers defense.
Playing in his 17th NFL season, Flacco will be tasked with doing something no Colts starter has done since Andrew Luck: beat the Jaguars on the road. Indy has lost nine straight road games against the Jaguars (eight in Florida and one in England), since Luck and the Colts won, 44-17, at EverBank Field on Sept. 21, 2014. Flacco was helping the Ravens to a 23-21 win over the Cleveland Browns on that same day.
Flacco is 4-4 as a starter against the Jaguars, including a Week 14 win with the Browns last season in which he threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns.
Flacco and the Colts (2-2) will kick off Sunday against the winless Jaguars (0-4).
