The Indianapolis Colts are 0-2, and it’s only getting worse.
Star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday. Buckner suffered a right ankle injury in Sunday’s loss at Green Bay. He underwent an MRI that revealed a high ankle sprain, a league source told The Athletic.
I can confirm, per a league source, that #Colts DT DeForest Buckner’s MRI revealed that he suffered a right high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss at Green Bay. It’s not season-ending, but he’s expected to be sidelined for multiple games.
Here’s the play again.@mchappell51 first. pic.twitter.com/AHVFTV3giW
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 17, 2024
Buckner, who prior to this injury had missed only one game due to injury in nine NFL seasons, will now be sidelined for at least the next four games. The Colts will host the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively, before playing at Jacksonville and Tennessee in Weeks 5 and 6.
The earliest Buckner could return is Week 7 at home against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 20.
“He means a great deal to us,” Indianapolis defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said Tuesday before Buckner’s injury was announced. “He’s a strong presence in that D-line room, and not only the D-line, but the whole defense. They look (up) to him.”
Buckner, a two-time All-Pro, was carted off the field Sunday after rallying to make a tackle on Packers running back Emanuel Wilson with 2:58 left in the third quarter. As Buckner closed in, his right ankle got pinned awkwardly under Wilson and Colts linebacker E.J. Speed while both players fell down.
Buckner was eventually carted back to the locker room and was seen using crutches after the game.
Although Buckner and wide receiver Josh Downs play different positions, have different body types and therefore use their ankles in different ways, it may still be worth noting that Downs suffered a right high ankle sprain in training camp Aug. 7. The second-year pro missed the first two games of the season while rehabbing and is eyeing a season debut next Sunday against Chicago, which would be 46 days after he initially suffered the injury.
Buckner is the third Indianapolis defensive starter to be placed on injured reserve this season and the fourth defensive player overall. Starting defensive end Samson Ebukam tore his Achilles on the third day of training camp (though he hasn’t been ruled out for the season), and starting cornerback JuJu Brents sustained an MCL injury in the team’s season opener against the Texans. Backup linebacker Cameron McGrone dislocated his right elbow during training camp.
Buckner’s absence is a huge blow for the Colts, and it comes at a time when their run defense is reeling. Indianapolis has given up 474 rushing yards through two games, which is the most in the NFL. In fact, the Colts are the only team to have yielded over 400 yards on the ground.
In response to Buckner’s injury, Indianapolis elevated backup defensive end Genard Avery from its practice squad to the active roster. However, the bulk of Buckner’s snaps will likely be split among backup defensive tackles Taven Bryan, Raekwon Davis and Adetomiwa Adebawore.
Perhaps defensive ends Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis could see their role increase if the Colts choose to bump one of them inside.
Bradley said Indianapolis would rely on all of its interior defensive linemen if Buckner was sidelined for an extended period of time, and now that is the case. The Colts coordinator had really high praise for Bryan when he was asked specifically about the 2018 first-round pick.
“He is tough-minded, mentally tough, strains (and) does everything right,” Bradley said. “You know exactly where he’s going to be and what you can count on from him every day. And that part right now, that’s what you need — the consistency factor of knowing exactly what you’re going to get out of his play.”
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(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
