INDIANAPOLIS – The future remains uncertain – at so many levels – but the Indianapolis Colts’ present belongs to Joe Flacco. The team has decided to bench Anthony Richardson, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed. ESPN was first to report the move. The 22-year-old and No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft was viewed as the franchise’s quarterback of the future. But everyone understood Richardson was a project because of his lack of experience – 13 starts at Florida – and growing pains were anticipated. But Richardson’s erratic performance in his second season apparently proved too much for general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen – perhaps even owner Jim Irsay – to further endure. Richardson has completed 44.4% of his passes and has a 57.2 passer rating in his six starts, both worst in the NFL by a wide margin. He also is coming off the worst game of his 10-start career: 10-of-32 for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Sunday’s 23-20 loss at Houston. Richardson “tapped out’’ for one play late in the second quarter, removing himself from the game because he was “tired.’’ A source noted Flacco was considered the best fit at this time and that Richardson could benefit from stepping back and catching his breath, at least temporarily. Steichen and his staff met Tuesday morning and determined this was the best decision for the team. The source also insisted the Colts believe this will be a “growth” opportunity for Richardson and he still will be needed this season and “no doubt in the future.’’ Monday, Steichen surprised everyone by conceding he and his staff were “evaluating everything.’’ That was in stark contrast to the Colts steadfastly supporting Richardson as their starter, even with his slow development as a dual-threat quarterback. “We are evaluating everything,’’ Steichen said. “Not just the quarterback (but) everything. Like, we’ve all gotta be better. I mean, we’re sitting at .500 and I think looking back at what we’ve done, there’s a whole bunch of areas we can improve on. “I’m not just talking about the quarterback. I’m talking about everything. We’ve gotta be better moving forward.’’ They’ll move forward with Flacco. In short order, the Colts have transitioned from the league’s youngest quarterback to one of its oldest. Flacco turned 39 in January. The Colts take a 4-4 record into Sunday night’s road test with the Minnesota Vikings, and still could make a playoff push with Flacco under center. “Sitting at .500, we’re right in the thick of things,’’ Steichen said. “If you look at the standings, I mean, we’re sitting right in the middle of it.’’ The Colts are one-half game behind the Los Angeles Chargers for the 7th and final AFC playoff spot. “We’re right in the thick of thing of it,’’ Steichen said, “and everything we want to achieve is out in front of us and we’ve got to go get it.’’ Wherever the Colts go from here, they’ll follow Flacco’s lead. He’s 1-1 as a starter when Richardson was out with an oblique injury, and was productive filling in after Richardson was injured against Pittsburgh. In four appearances, he’s completed 65.7% of his passes for 716 yards with seven touchdowns, one interception and a 102.2 rating. It’s worth noting Flacco has a league-best 137.2 rating in the fourth quarter: 16-of-26, 276 yards, four TDs, zero interceptions. The decision, though, could have long-term ramifications for the franchise. The Colts have been in scramble mode at their most influential position – quarterback – since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement a few weeks before the start of the 2019 season. The year-to-year uncertainty bounced from Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz to Matt Ryan before Ballard invested the 4th overall pick in the 2023 draft on Richardson. The unique 6-4, 250-pounder was raw, but Ballard, Steichen and Irsay believed he could develop into their quarterback of the future and stabilize everything. Richardson was the third quarterback drafted that year – Carolina selected Bryce Young No. 1 and Houston took C.J. Stroud No. 2 – but Irsay has insisted on several occasions the Colts would have taken Richardson if they had had the 1st overall selection. In the short term, Flacco might offer the Colts a better opportunity to win. He certainly lacks Richardson’s athleticism and ability to run and avoid sacks, but his decisiveness and accuracy should lessen mistakes. Richardson has turned the ball over nine times in his six starts – seven interceptions, two lost fumbles. It will be interesting to monitor the long-term impact of Richardson-to-Flacco. Again, Ballard and Steichen essentially tied the future of the franchise – and their futures – to Richardson fulfilling their expectations. Barring injury, how do they go back to Richardson this season? And if Flacco finishes this year, how do the Colts handle the offseason? It would be hard to go into 2025 with any type of quarterback competition that includes Richardson. The team might mention Richardson will benefit from sitting and watching Flacco – for a game, two games, the entire season – but that’s in stark contrast to the stance everyone has taken to this point. From Irsay to Ballard to Steichen, the objective always has been to give Richardson as many reps as possible. He was limited to four starts and 173 snaps as a rookie by a concussion and sprain to the AC joint in his right shoulder that required season-ending surgery. That obviously impeded Richardson’s development. “Of course, the more snaps you get as a player, no matter what position you play in the league but especially quarterback, the more snaps you get, the more you can put on their plate, the more success they will have,’’ Ballard said at the NFL Combine in February.’’ Prior to the opening of training camp in late July, Ballard admitted “there’s going to be some rollercoaster moments’’ with Richardson. “I won’t say all, but most quarterbacks, when they’re young, go through those moments. There’s going to be. “But learn from them, grow and keep moving forward.’’ Whether it’s a coincidence or not, Richardson’s benching comes two days after he pulled himself out of the Texans game for one play. He tapped his helmet, went to the sidelines and was replaced by Flacco. After the game, Richardson cited fatigue. “Tired. I ain’t going to lie,’’ he said. Steichen and Pro Bowl center/captain Ryan Kelly spoke with Richardson Monday about the incident. Steichen insisted it would have no bearing on any possible decision on Richardson’s status. “He knows on those type of deals you can’t take yourself out,’’ Steichen said. Added Kelly: “I think he knows that’s not the standard that he needs to play up to and the rest of the team holds him to. I’m sure he’s going to take some criticism for that and rightfully so. “He’s young. I’m sure it’s a learning moment for him.’’ You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.