Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL, has been dealing with some injury concerns lately.
The 2023 No. 4 overall pick left Indianapolis' Week 4 win over the Steelers due to an oblique injury and still hasn't made a full recovery. He logged three limited practices this week, keeping his status in jeopardy for the AFC South showdown.
For the latest updates on Richardson's hip injury, The Sporting News has you covered below.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Is Anthony Richardson playing this week?
On Saturday, the Colts downgraded Richardson's status to doubtful for Sunday's contest against the Jaguars due to his oblique injury.
Colts downgraded QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) to doubtful for Sunday’s game vs. the Jaguars.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2024
Colts QB Joe Flacco is now in line to start Sunday. pic.twitter.com/209Z7zgZ18
And then he was confirmed to be out Sunday morning. Richardson was originally listed as questionable for the game after being a limited participant at all three of Indianapolis' practices this week.
Backup quarterback Joe Flacco took "most, if not all, of the first-team reps [on Friday]," per The Athletic's James Boyd. Richardson sat behind Flacco and watched him throw during the majority of the quarterback drills, Boyd added.
MORE: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings | Week 5 NFL picks | Week 5 NFL picks against the spread
Flacco stepped in for Richardson last Sunday, completing 16 of his 26 pass attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Given Flacco's veteran experience, it wouldn't be a surprise if Indianapolis is choosing to wait until its franchise quarterback is fully healthy before sending Richardson back out.
Richardson has had an up-and-down season to this point, throwing for 654 yards, three touchdowns and an NFL-worst six interceptions. He has added 141 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on the ground.
Check back for updates on Richardson's oblique injury as they become available.
Colts QB depth chart
| Role | Player |
| QB1 | Anthony Richardson |
| QB2 | Joe Flacco |
| QB3 | Sam Ehlinger |
1. Anthony Richardson
Richardson is the Colts' franchise quarterback when healthy.
Indianapolis selected Richardson out of Florida with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but the young star quarterback has had trouble staying healthy. He only appeared in four games as a rookie before suffering a concussion and a sprained MC joint that required season-ending surgery.
An oblique injury forced him to miss the majority of the Colts' Week 4 win over the Steelers and has now sidelined him for Week 5 as well.
2. Joe Flacco
Flacco will fill in as the Colts' interim starter until Richardson is healthy enough to return.
Indianapolis signed Flacco to a one-year, $4.5 million contract as one of the more reliable backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
The 17-year veteran and Super Bowl champion had a revitalizing season when he took over as the Browns' starter last year. He led Cleveland to a 4-1 record, AFC North division title and one playoff win.
Flacco was solid in his first game with the Colts, leading his team to a win over a strong Pittsburgh defense.
3. Sam Ehlinger
Ehlinger has been a backup for the Colts since he was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Texas.
He's only played in three games as a starter in four seasons and went 0-3 in those contests. He has 573 passing yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in eight total appearances.
Ehlinger would be the next man in line if Richardson can't go and Flacco gets injured.
WEEK 5 FANTASY RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Anthony Richardson fantasy football outlook
Richardson fantasy managers will need a backup plan before gams kick off on Sunday with Flacco getting the start.
The Sporting News' fantasy football expert Ed Williams has replaced Richardson (not ranked) for Flacco (QB14) in his Week 5 rankings.
If Flacco is available, he may not be a bad one-for-one swap for Richardson. Especially considering that Colts star RB Jonathan Taylor will also miss Week 5 with an ankle injury, Indianapolis may lean more on the passing game.
