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.

Per Colts HC Shane Steichen, CB Chris Lammons, RB Jonathan Taylor are OUT Sunday vs. Dolphins.

QB Anthony Richardson, "will be ready to roll, yeah."

Related Players: Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson

We can safely ignore the Colts backfield, but if you're truly desperate, Goodson can be plugged into Flexes, as the option who is getting some pass-game work.

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.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) was a full participant in today’s practice and is on track to return to the lineup on Sunday at Tennessee.

Related Players: Joe Flacco

The boost we saw to all of the receivers due to the pass-happy offense under Flacco is slightly downgraded now that Richardson is back, though Michael Pittman Jr. is out for the short-term, so maybe Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Adonai Mitchell see a boost anyways. Richardson has a less-than-ideal matchup this week, so it may be best to give him a week, depending on your other options.

There’s no quarterback controversy in Indianapolis.

Joe Flacco has completed 49-of-70 passes for 527 yards and five touchdowns since Anthony Richardson injured his oblique early in a Week Four win over the Steelers, but head coach Shane Steichen made it clear on Monday that the team is going to put Richardson back in the lineup once he’s medically cleared.

“He is our starting quarterback,” Steichen said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan.

Richardson was a limited participant in practice last week, the story said. This Wednesday will bring word on how much he’s doing at practice as the team moves toward their Week 6 trip to Tennessee the story added.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson left a game with an injury for the fourth time in his eight NFL starts, but it doesn’t sound like this hip issue or Richardson’s history is a source of great concern for the team.

Related players: Joe Flacco

The story went on to say that Richardson said after Sunday’s win over the Steelers that he thought he avoided a serious injury, but would be going for an MRI. On Monday, head coach Shane Steichen said that Richardson’s read appears to be correct and that the team isn’t worried about Richardson being too much of an injury risk, according to the story. We'll have to monitor the injury this week in practice ,as there was no word about his status for Week 5. The ageless Flacco would get the start if Richardson can't go.