The Indianapolis Colts have officially benched quarterback Anthony Richardson for their season finale against Jacksonville due to lingering back issues, thrusting veteran Joe Flacco into the starting spot once again. Coach Shane Steichen revealed Richardson couldn't make enough progress this week, his MRI revealing "a disc thing," according to the quarterback's own words, casting a shadow on his second NFL season that's seen him miss 17 out of 34 career games due to various injuries and even led to two benchings this year for performance reasons, and now the back spasm issue is sidelining him again, bringing Flacco under center which is a situation not unfamiliar to the Colts fans this season, as FOX59 reports.
The Indy Star further details the extent of Richardson's injury, noting that the quarterback hasn't participated in practice since experiencing severe back spasms that initially surfaced after a victory over the Titans, with Richardson describing a point at which he was crawling due to discomfort; Steichen initially dubbed it back soreness but had to correct his description after Richardson continued to sit out practices.
While Richardson struggles with his recovery, other Colts players are on the upswing with cornerback Juju Brents returning to full practice after a stint on injured reserve due to a knee injury and is anticipated to see game time in the near future, while wide receivers Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr, along with guard Quenton Nelson, have also been full participants in recent practices, signaling improved team health overall, as reported by Stampede Blue.
As Richardson's tumultuous season concludes with him on the sidelines, the Colts prepare to face the Jaguars with Flacco, a signal of not just a temporary shift in their quarterback lineup but possibly hinting at changes to come for the franchise if Richardson's injury woes continue to plague his young career.
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