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          Colts expect QB Anthony Richardson to start vs. Dolphins

          • Stephen Holder, ESPNOct 14, 2024, 09:01 PM
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              Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.

          INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts coach Shane Steichen said he anticipates quarterback Anthony Richardson returning to the starting lineup in the Colts' Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins.

          Steichen somewhat surprisingly kept Richardson sidelined for Sunday's game at Tennessee, even though Richardson had made significant progress from his oblique injury.

          "I wanted to make sure he was 100%," Steichen said Monday. "That's what went into the decision. He's really close. That's why we had him as our third/emergency quarterback. But he should be looking really good this week."

          Richardson, in his second year, has missed the past two games, opening the door for veteran backup Joe Flacco to take the reins. Flacco has found some success, throwing for 359 yards in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 and guiding the Colts to a win over the Titans on Sunday with a more meager statistical performance (189 yards, 5.0 yards per attempt).

          But any questions about the status of the respective quarterbacks was again put to rest by Steichen.

          "Flacco's a really good player and playing good ball for us, but when Anthony's healthy, he's our quarterback," Steichen said.

          The cautious approach with Richardson -- which the Colts are not employing with receiver Michael Pittman, who is playing through a painful back injury -- is unique to him because of his position, Steichen said.

          "It's case by case and, obviously, Anthony will touch the ball on every single play and it's a long season," he said. "We're six games into this thing and we want to have him for the long haul."

          Richardson missed 13 games as a rookie in 2023 and has started four of six games this season because of his latest injury. Richardson on Sunday told ESPN that he was "still healing" from the injury and concurred with the decision to keep him out of Sunday's game.

          "Anything for the team," he said. "If they feel like it's best for me to sit another week, I'm listening to them. If they feel like it's best for me to go out there and play, I'm going to listen to them. Whatever they feel is best for the team, that's what it is."