Displaying optimal durability during his first four Colts seasons, DeForest Buckner ran into his first roadblock this year. An ankle injury sidelined the Pro Bowl defensive tackle in Week 2, but Indianapolis is poised to have its top D-lineman back soon.
Buckner has completed a key step en route back to the field; the Colts designated him for return Wednesday. Buckner now has 21 days to be activated. Shane Steichen was optimistic Buckner and Jonathan Taylor would be back, so it would surprise if the Colts waited another week to activate Buckner. Taylor is not on IR but has missed three games with a high ankle sprain.
The Colts earmarked IR returns for Samson Ebukam and Cameron McGrone, designating both for return before setting their 53-man roster. Those moves already count toward Indianapolis’ eight injury activations. Buckner being moved back to the 53-man roster will leave Indy with five activations, but his comeback will be vital for a defense that ranks 29th in yardage and 31st against the run.
A Pro Bowler in 2021 and ’23 and a first-team All-Pro in his 2020 Colts debut, Buckner had missed just one game as a Colt prior to his September ankle injury. He and Grover Stewart operated as one of the most reliable DT tandems in recent NFL history, with Stewart’s start streak stretching to five years before an injury stalled it last season. Buckner figures to be back working with Stewart soon.
Buckner, 30, signed a near-fully guaranteed extension this offseason. His reliability certainly played a central role in the Colts authorizing that two-year, $46MM deal. The former 49ers first-rounder totaled 32.5 sacks from 2020-23, remaining one of the game’s best interior D-linemen. With Ebukam out, the Colts will be eager for Buckner to reprise his role as their pass rush anchor. It does not appear they will be waiting much longer.
I’ve always been a big Buckner fan but there’s no way that Colts defense will improve until they learn to tackle better than a bunch of 8 year old girls.