It looks like Joe Flacco time for the Colts.
Indianapolis downgraded quarterback Anthony Richardson to doubtful for Sunday’s Week 5 bout against the Jaguars, opening the door for Flacco to take the snaps under center.
Flacco, 39, took over for Richardson during the first quarter against the Steelers last week after the second-year signal-caller went down with an oblique injury, completing 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards with two touchdowns in three-plus quarters of action.
The Colts won that game 27-24, delivering Pittsburgh its first loss of the season.
With Richardson limited for most of the practice week, Flacco got his first taste of the starting QB role in a Colts uniform.
“You really can’t grasp the difference until you’ve had to do it both ways,” Flacco said, per ESPN. “… Just calling the play on a daily basis. We just did a walk-through. I got to call all the plays. And you go have practice, you get to call the plays. That little bit right there, [you’re] much more familiar with the game plan.”
The former Browns, Jets, Broncos and Ravens quarterback signed a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million with the Colts over the offseason after a surprising late-season run with Cleveland to help them reach the playoffs in 2023.
Playing in his 17th NFL season, Flacco has thrown for 44,104 yards with 247 touchdowns and 155 interceptions throughout his career.
Richardson, who missed the final 13 games of the 2023 season with a shoulder injury, had played in all of the Colts’ first four games, throwing for 654 yards with three touchdowns and a league-leading six interceptions.
