Joe Flacco to be Colts’ starting quarterback ‘going forward,’ head coach Shane Steichen says

The Colts will start Joe Flacco at quarterback in Sunday night’s Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, head coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday.

Flacco will replace Anthony Richardson behind center “going forward,” Steichen said. This is not just a one-week change, Steichen said.

“I’m just looking where we’re at as a football team, sitting at .500 with a lot of football left,” Steichen said, “and feel that Joe gives us the best chance going forward.”

The 39-year-old Flacco is 71/108 (65.7 percent) for 716 yards with seven touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 102.2 this season. Flacco tagged in for an injured Richardson in Week 4 and guided the Colts to a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, then posted the 10th-highest passer rating (121.3) of his 17-year career in Week 5’s 37-34 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Flacco again started the Colts’ 20-17 Week 6 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Steichen said Monday the Colts were “evaluating everything,” including Richardson’s place as the team’s starting quarterback, following their 23-20 Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans.

“Not giving up on Anthony by any means,” Steichen said. “He’s a really young player with a ton of talent.”

Richardson will be the Colts’ backup quarterback, Steichen said.