Joe Flacco being forced to start might be helpful for Colts in short term

While no team wants to lose its starting quarterback for any length of time, and while the Colts desperately need Richardson to develop into a franchise quarterback, Flacco might be who they need to start building early season momentum and keep pace with the Houston Texans in the AFC South.

While Flacco does not have much long-term upside at this stage of his career, he is a steady hand who is not going to make many mistakes. He came on in relief of Richardson in the Colts' Week 4 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and played relatively mistake-free football while generating a couple of touchdown drives. 

As bright of a future as Richardson has, he can be very boom-or-bust from week to week and even play to play. He will make eye-popping, highlight-reel plays that will produce touchdowns. But he has also been incredibly inaccurate this season and one of the most turnover-prone quarterbacks in the league, having already thrown six interceptions.

That is not a sustainable recipe for winning.

This does not mean the Colts should consider sitting a healthy Richardson for Flacco. It also does not mean he is not the long-term answer. It just means that the Colts need to be patient with Richardson, not rush him back and understand that they have a very capable quarterback in Flacco who has shown he can still win games.