The Indianapolis Colts announced on Tuesday that they are placing defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in injured reserve.
Buckner suffered an ankle injury in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Some good news is that this injury isn’t expected to be season-ending. Mike Chappell would report that the MRI revealed that Buckner suffered a high-ankle sprain.
While each injury and player is different, for what it’s worth, wide receiver Josh Downs suffered a high ankle sprain on August 7th and he returned to practice last week but did not play against the Packers.
With Buckner on injured reserve, he will have to miss at least four games.
It goes without saying, but the loss of Buckner for this stretch is a massive blow to the Colts’ defense.
Since arriving in Indianapolis in 2020, Buckner has been the definition of both consistent and disruptive, leaving his mark in both the running and passing games.
If the Colts are going to turn their season around, they have to get better against the run, but that’s a chore that becomes all the more difficult without Buckner.
For what it’s worth, Taven Bryan got the start next to Grover Stewart this past Sunday with Buckner on a snap count, although Raekwon Davis would end up out-snapping Bryan.
In Buckner’s place, the Colts also announced that they’ve signed defensive end Genard Avery from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.