The Colts are optimistic that they will get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back from injured reserve this week, according to Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen.
Buckner has been on injured reserve since suffering a high ankle sprain to his right leg against Green Bay.
Indianapolis could use him back in the lineup. The pass rush has suffered without Buckner to serve as the tip of the spear, and the Colts are careening towards a showdown for first place in the AFC South this week with a Texans team that has given up 21 sacks already, fourth-most in the NFL.
Buckner picked up 1.5 sacks in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
"Optimistic on Buck returning this week," Steichen said.
The Colts desperately need Buckner's presence in the middle of the pass rush. Indianapolis has just two sacks in the past three weeks, and although rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu has consistently created pressure off the edge, he has just two sacks, in part because quarterbacks have been able to step up into the pocket and escape.
Buckner typically takes away that space, both by beating his man in one-on-one situations and by driving double teams back.
And the Colts have rarely had to play without him in the past. Before he suffered a significant high ankle sprain against Green Bay, Buckner had missed just two games in eight seasons, the first during his rookie year in San Francisco and the second due to a positive COVID-19 test during the 2020 campaign at the height of the pandemic.
Indianapolis needs him back in the lineup. A difficult five-game stretch for the Colts begins with the Texans on Sunday, then features four more games in a row against high-powered offenses and big-name quarterbacks.
The Colts are going to need Buckner's pressure
Colts DT DeForest Buckner injury
DeForest Buckner suffered a high ankle sprain the Colts' Week 2 game vs Green Bay. High ankle sprains generally take 4-6 weeks to recover from, putting Buckner at the short end of that recovery.
Colts DT DeForest Buckner stats
Buckner has 7 tackles and 1.5 sacks in two games this season with two quarterback hits.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: DeForest Buckner injury update: Colts DT expected to come of IR
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The Colts are optimistic that they will get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back from injured reserve this week, according to Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen.
Buckner has been on injured reserve since suffering a high ankle sprain to his right leg against Green Bay.
Indianapolis could use him back in the lineup. The pass rush has suffered without Buckner to serve as the tip of the spear, and the Colts are careening towards a showdown for first place in the AFC South this week with a Texans team that has given up 21 sacks already, fourth-most in the NFL.
Buckner picked up 1.5 sacks in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
"Optimistic on Buck returning this week," Steichen said.
The Colts desperately need Buckner's presence in the middle of the pass rush. Indianapolis has just two sacks in the past three weeks, and although rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu has consistently created pressure off the edge, he has just two sacks, in part because quarterbacks have been able to step up into the pocket and escape.
Buckner typically takes away that space, both by beating his man in one-on-one situations and by driving double teams back.
And the Colts have rarely had to play without him in the past. Before he suffered a significant high ankle sprain against Green Bay, Buckner had missed just two games in eight seasons, the first during his rookie year in San Francisco and the second due to a positive COVID-19 test during the 2020 campaign at the height of the pandemic.
Indianapolis needs him back in the lineup. A difficult five-game stretch for the Colts begins with the Texans on Sunday, then features four more games in a row against high-powered offenses and big-name quarterbacks.
The Colts are going to need Buckner's pressure
Colts DT DeForest Buckner injury
DeForest Buckner suffered a high ankle sprain the Colts' Week 2 game vs Green Bay. High ankle sprains generally take 4-6 weeks to recover from, putting Buckner at the short end of that recovery.
Colts DT DeForest Buckner stats
Buckner has 7 tackles and 1.5 sacks in two games this season with two quarterback hits.
