Reunion: the Cleveland Browns and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco reached agreement today on a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $13 million with incentives. Flacco now will return to Cleveland, where he won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023.

Flacco also spoke with the Steelers and Vikings but opted to spend his 18th NFL season with the Browns.

Related Players: Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett

It's interesting that the team didn't just retain Jameis Winston, considering he signed a very similar deal with the Giants earlier this offseason. Regardless, Flacco will team up with Pickett as the veteran backstops in case a potential rookie option needs time to get up to speed in the league.

Colts HC Shane Steichen: QB Anthony Richardson (back/foot) questionable vs. Giants. 'We'll see how next 48 hours go.' Did not practice this week.

Related Players: Joe Flacco

So he's not officially out, but fantasy managers are going to need a backup plan. If Flacco goes, it gives a boost to the entire WR room, pushing Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. up to WR3 consideration.

Anthony Richardson started just 10 NFL games before being benched, but now returns and will be the starter for the rest of the season.

The Colts are adamant they have not given up on him, and coach Shane Steichen noted today he's seen Richardson make strides over the last two weeks.

Related Players: Joe Flacco

Richardson blew up in the fantasy box score in Week 1 (26.1 points, three all-purpose touchdowns) but has been held under 12 points in his five other appearances. He should be kept on benches for now.

After Sunday’s loss to the Bills, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Joe Flacco will remain the team’s quarterback “until I say otherwise.”

Steichen didn’t say otherwise on Monday. At a press conference, Steichen confirmed that Flacco will get another start when the Colts face the Jets in Week 11.

Related players: Anthony Richardson

The Colts benched Richardson in favor of Flacco two weeks ago and they’ve lost both games since the move was made, the story pointed out. Flacco was 42-of-62 for 451 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions in the losses to the Vikings and Bills, the story added. Richardson had his helmet on and looked like he was ready to get back on the field after Flacco threw his second INT early on against the Bills, but the Colts stuck with Flacco. It's a winnable game against the struggling Jets this week, and it looks like the Colts continue to trust Flacco more.

Colts HC Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco starts at QB vs. Buffalo on Sunday.

Related players: Anthony Richardson

Flacco struggled again in Week 9, going 16 for 27 for 179 yards and an INT. The Colts defense scored their only touchdown of the game. This week the Colts host the Bills, so it won't get any easier for Flacco and the Colts offense. From a fantasy angle, Flacco was last productive back in Week 6 in a 20-17 win over the Titans when he threw for two touchdowns but still only had just 189 yards passing.

While the Colts are benching Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco, they’re not planning for this to be permanent.

That’s according to Stephen Holder of ESPN, who noted on Tuesday that a team source explained that Indianapolis wants Richardson to take a step back, take a break from the day-to-day pressures of being the starter, and try to grow.

“We are not quitting on Anthony,” Holder’s source told him. “That will be the story, but that is not the case.”

The story added that Richardson was pretty devastated by the news, so it remains to be seen how he takes things going forward. The Colts feel Flacco gives them the best chance to win at this point as they sit at 4-4 on the season and certainly in the think of the playoff race as things stand now.

A QB change for the Colts: Indianapolis is benching former first-round pick Anthony Richardson and turning to veteran Joe Flacco.

Schefter added the Colts coaches met this morning and made the decision. The signs were there after HC Shane Steichen said everything will be evaluated. Reports Monday said the team also met privately with Richardson after he took himself out of the game this past week because of needing a break. It's not really clear if this is a one-week benching or more long term. The Colts are in the thick of things sitting at 4-4 and likely feel that Flacco gives them a better chance to win and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson asked to come out of Sunday’s loss to the Texans for a play because he “needed a break” after doing a lot of running on the two previous plays.

Shane Steichen was asked at his press conference if Anthony Richardson will be the starting quarterback against the Vikings this week.

“We’re evaluating everything,” Steichen said, via multiple reporters.

Related players: Joe Flacco

Richardson reportedly needed a break during Week 8 action. Richardson missed two games with an oblique injury earlier this year and has completed 44.4 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and seven interceptions in his six starts, the story said. Flacco would presumably return to the starting lineup if the Colts decide that it is time to make a change, the story added.

Colts HC Shane Steichen told reporters that QB Anthony Richardson will play Sunday if he does not suffer any setbacks from his oblique injury.

Related players: Joe Flacco

Richardson was close to playing in Week 6 according to reports, so this was the hopeful outcome heading into Week 7. The Colts are in an early game against the Dolphins so owners will have plenty of time to make adjustments if for some reason there is a setback. But for now, Richardson looks good to go.

Shane Steichen ruling just one #Colts player OUT for Sunday:

-Jonathan Taylor (ankle)

Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is feeling really good, per Steichen.

Anthony Richardson will be a game-time decision.

Related Players: Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, Joe Flacco

It hadn't been looking good for Taylor throughout the week, so maybe the bigger news is that we don't have any confirmation about Richardson's status, which has a huge impact on lineup decisions.

There are a lot of moving parts here, but we're assuming Pittman won't play and that Richardson *will*, which gives a slight boost to Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, who should be considered WR3s with upside for more.