The Indianapolis Colts will stick with Joe Flacco at quarterback for at least this Sunday’s game at the New York Jets.
Coach Shane Steichen confirmed Flacco will remain the starter on Monday, one day after the 39-year-old threw three interceptions in a 30-20 home loss to Buffalo that dropped Indianapolis to 4-6.
The Colts have now lost three consecutive games, beginning with a Week 8 loss at Houston in which second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson briefly removed himself from the game for being tired. Flacco started the following week against Minnesota and has thrown for 451 yards over the past two games.
However, Indianapolis has lost both while Flacco has committed six turnovers.
“Joe’s a veteran guy,” Steichen said when explaining his decision to stick with Flacco for a third consecutive week. “He’s had two games that he’d want back. But again, he goes out there, throws some good passes. Obviously, the interceptions, there’s three of those. There’s two that he’d want back.
“Again, you stick with it, you grind through it. The process of this whole thing, it really is a process. We’re going through that process right now. Right now, Joe’s still our guy.”
Following the Jets game, the Colts play host to Detroit before traveling to New England ahead of their bye week. Indianapolis is only two games behind Houston in the standings, but has already lost both meetings against the Texans this season.
Flacco played for the Jets from 2020-22, and Sunday will present a matchup against 40-year-old counterpart Aaron Rodgers.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Richardson remains the backup, having played in only 10 career NFL games. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, he is last in the NFL in completion percentage at 44.4 percent with seven interceptions.
“You’ve gotta go through the process every single day,” Steichen said when asked where things stand with Richardson. “And that’s where it’s at. He’s a great person, phenomenal human being.
“Not ever losing faith or trust in him. We’re going through a process right now, and that’s where it’s at.”
