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          Colts QB Anthony Richardson to return after 2-game absence

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          Joe Flacco tells McAfee he isn't worried about his role on Colts (1:04)

          Colts QB Joe Flacco joins Pat McAfee to discuss the dynamic between himself and Anthony Richardson. (1:04)

          • Stephen Holder, ESPNOct 18, 2024, 06:16 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 -- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will make his return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

          Richardson missed the past two games with an oblique injury sustained in Week 4, giving way to veteran Joe Flacco to play against the Jaguars and Titans.

          Colts coach Shane Steichen decided against playing Richardson last week against Tennessee, saying he wasn't fully healed. But, this week, Richardson took all the starter's reps and was a full participant in practice all three days for the first time since his injury.

          "He looked good," Steichen said. "He was throwing crisp passes, he was right in the pocket, got out, moved him around, ran a lot. So, he looked really good."

          Richardson is trying to put together some consistency after missing 15 of a possible 21 regular-season games since being drafted fourth in 2023.

          Also, the Colts will be without running back Jonathan Taylor for a third straight game as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain. Taylor has suggested multiple times in the past couple of weeks that he was close to returning to practice, but he has yet to see the field. That time might finally be near.

          "He's very close," Steichen said of Taylor.

          The Colts have struggled to run the ball in the absence of Taylor and Richardson, who is a dual-threat quarterback. In Weeks 1 through 4, Indianapolis averaged 132 rushing yards. In the past two games, they've averaged just 90.