Colts coach: QB Joe Flacco is team’s starting QB ‘going forward’

Indianapolis Colts veteran Joe Flacco will serve as the team’s starting quarterback “going forward,” head coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday.Steichen noted that it’s not just a one-week switch from former first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson to the 39-year-old Flacco.The Colts (4-4) had won four of their previous five games before dropping a 23-20 decision to the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (6-2) on Sunday.”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.”Flacco will be under center for Indianapolis’ game on Sunday night versus the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) in Minneapolis. Richardson will serve as Flacco’s backup, Steichen said.Richardson completed only 10 of 32 passes (31.3 percent) for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception last Sunday against the Texans.During the third quarter, Richardson made the unusual move of taking himself out of the game in the middle of a Colts drive. He later explained that he needed a breather after scrambling on several plays.”Tired, I ain’t gonna lie,” said Richardson, 22. “That was a lot of running right there that I did. … So, I just told Shane that I needed a break right there.”