Colts coach Shane Steichen said Monday that the team is " very hopeful" that Buckner (neck, IR) will retake the field this season but added he remains without a timetable to return, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Indianapolis placed Buckner on IR on Nov. 7, meaning his earliest possible return date would be Sunday, Dec. 14 versus the Seahawks in Week 15. Based on Steichen's comments, however, it sounds like Buckner could require more time on the sideline than the minimum four games mandated by his placement on IR. Neville Gallimore has stepped into an expanded defensive role with Buckner out, though he tallied just one assisted tackle during the Colts' win over the Falcons on Sunday.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Placed on injured reserve
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Buckner (neck) was placed on injured reserve Friday.
Buckner will miss at least four games, so his next chance to take the field will come Sunday, Dec. 14 against the Seahawks. The veteran defensive tackle has 4.0 sacks this season. The Colts' remaining healthy defensive tackles are Grover Stewart, Neville Gallimore, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Eric Johnson.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Misses practice Wednesday
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Buckner (neck) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Buckner is dealing with an apparent neck issue, which forced him to sit out the team's first practice of the week. The defensive lineman recorded four total tackles (two solo) in the team's 27-20 loss to the Steelers in Week 9, and it's possible that he suffered the injury in the contest. Buckner will have two more chances to return to practice ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Falcons in Germany.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Keeps on pass rush roll
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Buckner had two total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, in Sunday's win over Tennessee.
After failing to register a sack in his first four games, Buckner has 4.0 sacks over his last four games. He also has seven QB hits and nine QB hurries over that same span, per Pro Football Focus.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Records 2.0 sacks in win
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Buckner registered five tackles (four solo), including 2.0 sacks, and four total quarterback hits during the Colts' 38-24 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
After failing to register a sack in his first four games, Buckner has 3.0 sacks over his last three games. The veteran defensive tackle is up to 36 total tackles through seven regular-season games, and he is well on pace to surpass his mark from the 2024 campaign (61 tackles over 12 regular-season games).
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Questionable to play Sunday
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Buckner (back) is questionable to play in Sunday's contest versus the Rams.
Buckner has been limited by a back injury at practice throughout the week, sitting out Wednesday and Friday, while logging a limited session Thursday. The defensive lineman said Friday that he expects to play in Sunday's contest against Los Angeles, per James Boyd of The Athletic. If he ultimately can't go, Neville Gallimore and Eric Johnson would stand to see an increase in workload at defensive tackle in Week 4.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Three tackles in opener
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Buckner had three total tackles, a QB hit and a QB hurry in Sunday's win over Miami.
Indy dominated the Dolphins on defense but Buckner surprisingly didn't make major contributions. He was healthy after dealing with a back injury late in the preseason as he played on 32 of the defense's 47 snaps. It likely won't take him long to get his first sack of the season.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Past foot issue
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Buckner (foot) played in Saturday's preseason game against Green Bay.
It was Buckner's first action of the preseason, as he logged nine defensive snaps. Buckner missed practice time earlier in camp but appears to be all systems go as he heads into his age-31 campaign.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Misses practice Thursday
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Buckner (foot) sat out of practice Thursday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
This appears to be a new issue for Buckner, though he did miss five games in 2024 with an ankle injury. The severity of the injury will be worth monitoring, as Buckner is once again expected to serve as Indianapolis' defensive centerpiece. The two-time All-Pro finished last season with 61 tackles (24 solo), including 6.5 sacks, and a pass breakup in 12 games.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Production hurt by injury in 2024
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Buckner tallied 61 tackles, including 6.5 sacks, along with a defensed pass over 12 games during the regular season.
After playing in every regular-season game for Indianapolis during the previous three campaigns, Buckner missed five contests in 2024 due to an ankle injury. He remained productive when healthy, though, ranking second on the Colts in sacks and finishing with just 1.5 fewer than he logged in each of the previous two seasons. Buckner signed a two-year contract extension last April and should be a vital part of Indianapolis' defensive line again in 2025.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Records sack in loss
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Buckner finished with seven tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Lions.
The defensive tackle has now recorded at least 1.0 sacks in four of the seven games he's played in this season. Buckner has also played on at least 60 percent of the defensive snaps in every game since returning from an ankle injury in late October.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Practices in full Thursday
Rotowire
Buckner (foot) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Buckner was listed as a DNP on Wednesday due to a foot issue, but he was able to return to Thursday's practice without any restrictions and should be good to go against the Jets on Sunday. In his last three outings since returning from injured reserve, Buckner has logged 17 tackles (nine solo), including 2.0 sacks.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Begins Week 11 prep with absence
Rotowire
Buckner didn't practice Wednesday due to a foot injury.
Buckner played a season-high 57 defensive snaps and recorded eight total tackles in Sunday's loss to the Bills, but he may have hurt his foot in the process. The veteran defensive tackle will look to put in a full practice by Friday to help erase any concerns about his status heading into Sunday's game against the Jets.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Ready to rock
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The Colts activated Buckner (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday, in advance of Sunday's divisional matchup at Houston.
Buckner has missed five games since being placed on IR due to a high-ankle sprain sustained Week 2, and he's now all clear for Sunday's game against the Texans. The Colts have lifted Buckner's initial 'questionable' designation for Week 8 action entirely, indicating that the star defensive tackle is ready to handle his usual starting workload.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Doesn't practice Friday
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Buckner (ankle) was listed as a DNP on Friday's injury report and is questionable for Sunday's game against Houston.
Buckner's 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve opened Wednesday, and he looked to be trending in the right direction after logging a full practice Thursday. However, he wasn't on the field for Friday's session, and it's uncertain whether it was a planned rest day or a setback. Unless announced sooner, Buckner's status for Sunday's game will be known once the Colts release their inactive list about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Returns to practice field
Rotowire
Bucker (ankle) was a limited participant during practice Wednesday.
Buckner was designated to return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday, opening up his 21-day practice window. Whether he'll be able to suit up Sunday against the Texans remains in question and probably won't be known until closer to kickoff. It is likely, though, that the Colts will want the Oregon product to log a full practice before sending him out on the field for game day.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Goes on IR with high-ankle sprain
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The Colts placed Buckner (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Per James Boyd of The Athletic, an MRI confirmed that Buckner sustained a right high-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Packers. The defensive tackle will have to miss at least the next four games and won't be eligible to play until at least Week 7 against the Dolphins. The Colts signed defensive end Genard Avery off their practice squad to replace Buckner on the 53-man roster.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: More imaging ordered
Rotowire
Buckner (ankle) will undergo an MRI after suffering a sprained ankle in Sunday's loss to the Packers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Buckner underwent an X-ray after he was carted off the field in the second half of Week 2's loss, and the test came back negative. Although the sprain is not expected to be serious, Rapoport suggests the veteran pass rusher is a long shot to play this Sunday against the Bears. More clarity about his status should come as the week unfolds and his MRI results become available.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Carted to locker room
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Buckner (ankle) is out for the rest of Sunday's game at Green Bay, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Buckner had his leg rolled up on awkwardly during the second half of Sunday's contest, and now he's been declared out for the rest of the game. Raekwon Davis should see an uptick in snaps as a result.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Officially questionable for Sunday
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Buckner (back) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Packers.
Despite not practicing all week due to a back injury sustained in Week 1, Buckner has a chance to suit up for Sunday's contest. The 30-year-old told reporters earlier in the week that he'll be a game-time decision, so his being listed as questionable comes as no surprise. If Buckner is unable to play in Week 2, expect Adetomiwa Adebawore and Raekwon Davis to see increased work with the Colts' first-team defense.
