Joe Flacco started at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, marking his second straight start after head coach Shane Steichen decided to bench second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Flacco’s first start since Steichen’s decision didn’t go as planned. The Colts fell 21-13 to the Minnesota Vikings, with Flacco throwing one interception, losing a fumble and failing to throw a touchdown pass. On Sunday, in Week 10, the Colts lost 30-20 to the Buffalo Bills, and Flacco’s performance was even worse this time around. He threw three interceptions and added another fumble to his turnover total.
After the loss on Monday, Steichen was asked which quarterback would get the start in Week 11 against the New York Jets. After Flacco’s struggles, Steichen reiterated he was still the Colts’ starter.
“You stick with it, you grind through the process of this whole thing,” Steichen said. “It really is a process, and we’re going through that right now, and Joe’s (Flacco) the starter.”
Flacco is in his 17th NFL season and his first with the Colts. The 39-year-old veteran is a Super Bowl champion and spent most of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He’s also had stints with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns. Next Sunday’s kickoff against the New York Jets is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
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Head coach Brian Daboll and the New York Giants reportedly could bench Daniel Jones and cut him at the end of the 2024 season.
The Daniel Jones Era in New York may be coming to an end, as coach Brian Daboll has not confirmed that the quarterback will continue as a starter. Originally a first-round pick in 2019, Jones had some promising moments but struggled due to a lackluster supporting cast and coaching under Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge. The situation improved in 2022, as Daboll led the team to the postseason in his first year.
In 2022, Jones had his best season, achieving a 9-6-1 record and completing 67.2% of his passes for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, with the league’s best interception rate at 1.1%. Despite not being a star, the Giants signed him to a four-year, $ 160 million contract, which is now seen as a mistake since he regressed in 2023. After missing out on Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Giants extended his tenure for one more season, but they are currently struggling at 2-8. Daboll mentioned he will assess the quarterback situation during the bye week.
While Jones isn’t regarded as a franchise quarterback, he is a solid bridge option and an impressive backup. It’s likely he won’t remain with the Giants next season, but teams like the Indianapolis Colts or Los Angeles Chargers could consider him for the 2025 season.
Jones Could Be Benched – Possible Fits with Colts and Chargers: Colts head coach Shane Steichen seems to be moving on from Anthony Richardson, who has struggled in his first starting season. With Joe Flacco faltering, the Colts need a reliable option if their next young QB isn’t ready. They might consider picking up Jones after the Giants cut him, as he would be a suitable bridge quarterback.
Rehabbing An Image: If no team is willing to offer Jones a starting role in 2025, he may need to accept a backup position, with the Chargers as an appealing option. While he wouldn’t surpass Justin Herbert, spending a year behind him could help Jones repair his image. Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers’ head coach, could provide him with the support needed to prove himself and potentially earn a starting job in 2026.
A parallel can be drawn to Mitchell Trubisky, who revived his career backing up Josh Allen after failing to find a starting opportunity. Similarly, Jones could take a step back to build himself up after two disappointing seasons.
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