The Indianapolis Colts hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season. The Colts took an early lead but lost dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson to a hip injury in the first half.
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco took over under center and helped sustain Indianapolis' momentum, leading them to a win over the Steelers.
In the first three games of the season, Richardson struggled with turnovers. He looked better before his injury against the Steelers but is dealing with a hip pointer. Given the injury and his slow start to the season, should the Colts start Flacco in Week 5 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars?
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Should Joe Flacco start for Indianapolis?
It's still early in the season, but the Colts play the Jaguars in Week 5. If the Colts were playing an NFC opponent, that wouldn't mean as much for AFC South rankings, and it would be easier to sit Flacco. This will be the first time that Indy plays Jacksonville this year, and they need a win.
If Richardson is 100% healthy, he likely will remain the starter. If the hip pointer lingers and bothers him throughout the week, restricting his mobility, the Colts need to go with Flacco.
Week 4 Colts QB stats
| Completions | Attempts | Passing Yards | Passing TDs | Interceptions | Sacks | Rushes | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | |
| Joe Flacco | 16 | 26 | 168 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Anthony Richardson | 3 | 4 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0 |
MORE: Week 4 NFL Power Rankings | Week 4 NFL picks | Week 4 NFL picks against the spread
How old is Joe Flacco?
Flacco is one of the oldest quarterbacks and players in the NFL this season. He was born in 1985 and is 39 years old.
Joe Flacco stats
Flacco was drafted 18th overall in 2008 by the Baltimore Ravens. He spent the first 11 seasons of his career with Baltimore. Since leaving the Ravens, Flacco has bounced around the Denver Broncos (one season), New York Jets (three seasons) and the Cleveland Browns (one season) before landing with the Colts in 2024.
Flacco won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens over the San Francisco 49ers. After bouncing around various teams, he had a career resurgence in Cleveland. The Browns were on their fourth quarterback of the season, and he helped lead them to the playoffs. Flacco was named the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
| Games | Passing Yards | Passing Touchdowns | Interceptions | |
| Baltimore Ravens | 163 | 38,425 | 212 | 136 |
| Denver Broncos | 8 | 1,822 | 6 | 5 |
| New York Jets | 12 | 2,253 | 14 | 6 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 1,616 | 13 | 8 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1 | 168 | 2 | 0 |
| Totals | 189 | 44,248 | 247 | 155 |
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Where did Joe Flacco go to college?
Flacco played for the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2003 and 2004. He was redshirted as a freshman, and after serving as a backup in 2004, he transferred to Delaware in 2005. Based on the transfer rules at the time, he had to sit out, so Flacco didn't take the field for the Fightin' Blue Hens until 2006.
Oldest QBs in the NFL
At 39 years old, Flacco is one of the oldest quarterbacks in the NFL, but he isn't the oldest. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 40 years old, turning 41 in December, and is the oldest quarterback in the league.
| Player Name | Age | Team |
| Aaron Rodgers | 40 | New York Jets |
| Joe Flacco | 39 | Indianapolis Colts |
| Josh Johnson | 38 | Baltimore Ravens |
| Andy Dalton | 37 | Carolina Panthers |
| Kirk Cousins | 36 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Matthew Stafford | 36 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Tyrod Taylor | 35 | New York Jets |
| Geno Smith | 34 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | 33 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Derek Carr | 33 | New Orleans Saints |
