NFL insider claims Colts could face same fate as Browns with Joe Flacco amid Anthony Richardson's injury
The Indianapolis Colts have a big question to answer for tomorrow's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Anthony Richardson's status for this weekend has been up in the air since the week started.
He was hit by two Steelers defenders, suffering an oblique injury that kept him as a limited participant in Wednesday, Thursday and Friday practice sessions.
NFL insider Diana Russini says that the Colts could prepare to start Joe Flacco this week, but Richardson may still start. She notes that if Flacco starts piling up wins, the 2023 Cleveland Browns-like situation might emerge.
"Joe Flacco stepped in after an Anthony Richardson injury last week and led the Colts over the Steelers. Flacco prepared all week as the starter while Richardson is expected to be a game-time decision. In the meantime, if Flacco continues to win, Indy might be in the same position this offseason as Cleveland was," Russini wrote.
The question here would be if Shane Steichen and Co. would want to have Flacco winning and staying on the field while the starting quarterback is trying to find his rhythm.
This situation could get uncomfortable for the organization, but it shouldn't be a problem as Richardson is the quarterback of the future while Flacco only signed for one year.
Then again, he looked solid against the Steelers, throwing 26 passes for 16 completions, 168 passing yards and two passing touchdowns when Richardson left the game in the first half. The challenge could be harder this week, as the Colts haven't won as visitors against the Jaguars since 2014.
JJ Watt says Joe Flacco should start for Colts
While Anthony Richardson claps back at fans saying he's injury-prone, Flacco is getting support from one of the best defensive players of all time. On Wednesday's edition of 'The Pat McAfee Show', JJ Watt took issue with Joe Flacco not starting for Indy.
"How come Flacco never gets the start from the gate?" Watt asked. "How come no team is doing that? It is interesting to me that he's always got to come off the bench and just go out there and crush it. I mean, he literally had to leave Cleveland, basically, because they didn't want a QB controversy there. So how come no team has taken this guy as their number one right now and just riding with him for a couple years and seeing what happens?"
Indianapolis could have a big issue brewing in front of them and everything could start going south this Sunday.