INDIANAPOLIS — The likelihood of Anthony Richardson starting Sunday’s game at Jacksonville has diminished.
The Indianapolis Colts downgraded their starting quarterback from questionable to doubtful on Saturday. They did the same with center Ryan Kelly, who’s dealing with a neck injury.
That almost assuredly means Joe Flacco makes his first start with the Colts. Rookie Tanor Bortolini would step in for Kelly for a second straight game.
Richardson was limited in practice this week after sustaining a strained oblique in the first quarter of last Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was injured at the end of a 14-yard run by a jarring hit by safety DeShon Elliott.
On Wednesday, Richardson admitted he still was sore from the hit but was making progress.
“I worked out today, so that was a plus,’’ he said. “Definitely a lot of progress from yesterday. Yesterday it was giving me a little bit of soreness, but I’ve been progressing day-by-day.
“So, we’re just trying to see what it’s going to be like the rest of the week.’’
With Richardson being limited all week, Flacco handled all of the reps with the starting unit.
He stressed the importance of working with the No. 1 group leading up to a game.
“Just calling the plays on a daily (basis),’’ Flacco said. “Like, we just did a walk-thru and I got to call the plays. You go out to practice today, you get to call the plays. That little bit right there, just how much more familiar you are with the game plan.
“You can sit in the house and call them to your wife or whatever you want to do, but it’s still just not quite the same as going out there and doing it and then running it and seeing it and all those things.’’
After Richardson was forced from the Steelers’ game, Flacco passed for 168 yards and touchdowns to Josh Downs and Drew Ogletree in the 27-24 victory.
At 39, he’ll be the third-oldest Colts QB. Ever.
During his 17-year career, Flacco has started 189 of 185 games – he’s 103-82 as a starter – and passed for 44,104 yards and 247 touchdowns.
The Colts have lost nine straight road games to the Jaguars, including eight in Jacksonville.
Flacco, though, found success in Jacksonville during that stretch.
In 2016, he led the Baltimore Ravens to a 19-17 victory at Jacksonville.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
