INDIANAPOLIS – Joe Flacco seemed a little surprised when he was told he won a game more recently at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville than the Indianapolis Colts.
Flacco finished 29 of 40 for 214 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Baltimore Ravens’ 19-17 win over the Jaguars in Week 3 of the 2016 season.
“Man, well, I was going to say it was a long time ago,” Flacco said Wednesday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. “…I only remember it because I was throwing to (wide receiver) Steve Smith. (Cornerback) Jalen Ramsey was there (for Jacksonville). It was some time ago.
“I mean, 2016. I mean, shoot, most of these guys — I don’t think there’s probably a lot of guys that were in the league back then.”
Center Ryan Kelly and long-term player Luke Rhodes are the only current players who were in Indianapolis then. Defensive tackle Adam Gotsis – elevated to the practice squad this week – is the only other current player who was in the NFL.
No current players remain from the Colts’ last victory in Jacksonville – a 44-17 decision on September 21, 2014.
Andrew Luck threw for 370 yards and four touchdowns for Indianapolis, and seven quarterbacks – including Luck – have failed to beat the Jaguars on the road since.
Sunday’s starter remains undetermined.
Anthony Richardson suffered an oblique injury during the first quarter of last week’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and there is hope that he might be ready to play in Jacksonville. But he was only a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice.
“It’s always difficult when you deal with injuries because you want to fight,” Richardson said. “I tried to fight in the (Pittsburgh) game. My body was telling me, “No, man, you need to take it easy. »
“I’m working on it day by day and just trying to listen to everyone and get the best advice.”
Richardson was on fire against the Steelers, but it didn’t last long.
He completed 3 of 4 passes for 71 yards – including 60 on two completions to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. – and he rushed three times for 24 yards.
But Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick collided with Richardson on a 14-yard run late in the first quarter, and the quarterback returned for a 1-yard run later in the period before ultimately be excluded.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson could play against the Jaguars even if he doesn’t fully participate in practice all week.
“If he feels good and he’s ready to go,” Steichen said, “he’ll be there, for sure.”
The Jaguars game means a lot to Richardson. He was born in Miami, Florida, but grew up less than 90 minutes in Gainesville, where he attended high school and college.
The 22-year-old missed last year’s game in Jacksonville after suffering a season-ending injury to the AC joint in his pitching shoulder the week before.
“Of course,” Richardson said when asked if returning to his home country had any special meaning. “Then I also heard that we haven’t won there for so long. We certainly want to change that.
“If I’m there, we’re definitely working to change that.”
INJURY REPORT
Seven players did not practice Wednesday for Indianapolis: linebacker Zaire Franklin (illness), center Ryan Kelly (neck), cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip), defensive end Kwity Paye (quadriceps), tackle right Braden Smith (knee), linebacker Grant. Stuard (heel) and running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle).
Kelly, Moore and Paye missed the Steelers game due to their injuries, and Taylor was injured during the game.
Smith missed part of the week of practice but played against Pittsburgh.
Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (concussion) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (knee) did not practice for Jacksonville.
Linebacker Yasir Abdullah (neck), running back Tank Bigsby (shoulder), wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder), tight end Evan Engram (hamstring), running back Travis Etienne (shoulder), Cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) and safety Darnell Savage (quadriceps) were limited.
