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: Gets another sack Sunday
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Buckner recorded seven tackles (one solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Sunday's 25-24 win at New England.
Buckner's sack came on a third down in the red zone to hold the Patriots to a field goal on their first drive. He has been as efficient as ever as a pass rusher when healthy this season, keeping him on the IDP map for the fantasy playoffs in some formats.
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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
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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
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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: Puts up another sack
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Buckner recorded six tackles (four solo) and a sack in Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Vikings.
Buckner has notched a sack in each game since returning from a five-game stint on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Considering he hasn't lost a step and is still handling a significant snap share -- 60 and 76 percent the last two weeks, respectively -- Buckner should be considered a solid DL start moving forward.
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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
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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: Could return to practice next week
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Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Friday that he's optimistic Buckner's (ankle) 21-day practice window will open next week, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Buckner has missed the Colts' last four games on injured reserve after sustaining an ankle injury in Indianapolis' Week 2 loss to the Packers. However, Steichen's comments Friday suggest Buckner is nearing a return to the field. If the 30-year-old defensive lineman is able to begin practicing next week, the Colts will have 21 days to activate him to their active roster before he reverts to IR.
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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
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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.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Game-time decision
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Buckner (back) did not practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Buckner has yet to practice this week as he continues to tend to a back injury he suffered in Week 1 against the Texans. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Oregon product sit out Friday as well, in an attempt to maximize his recovery time ahead of Sunday's game against the Packers. Buckner told Boyd in the locker room that he would be a game-time decision for the matchup, and further clarity probably won't come until the team announces its inactive list about 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Hopeful for Week 2
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Head coach Shane Steichen is hopeful Buckner (back) will be able to play this Sunday against the Packers, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Buckner left late in Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Texans, recording six total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, before his exit. Any missed time for the Oregon product, whom Steichen described as "tough as nails" when discussing his potential Week 2 availability, would be a major blow for the Colts' defense. Buckner's practice status in the days ahead may help shed some light on how likely he'll be to play against Green Bay, but it is also possible he could just suit up without practicing this week.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Exits with back injury
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Buckner left Sunday's loss to Houston with a back injury and did not return, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports. He had six total tackles, 1.5 sacks and a tackle for a loss before departing.
The extent of Buckner's injury isn't clear. He was his usual disruptive force in Sunday's game, so any missed time will impact the Indy defense.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Gets two-year extension
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Buckner and the Colts agreed to terms Monday on a two-year, $46 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Buckner penned a four-year, $84 million extension with Indianapolis back in 2020, when the team traded the No. 13 overall pick in that year's draft to the 49ers in exchange for the defensive tackle, and he now inks a substantial extension to remain with the Colts through 2026. The 30-year-old tallied a career-high 81 total tackles across 17 regular-season games last season, and he's logged 8.0 sacks in back-to-back years.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Buckner (back) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday.
Buckner was estimated as not practicing during Tuesday's walkthrough, but he was able to participate in a limited fashion Wednesday. The veteran has played in all 13 of the Colts' contests this season, tallying 64 tackles (36 solo), including 5.5 sacks. Buckner hasn't missed a game since the 2020 campaign, but he may get tagged with an injury designation heading into Saturday's game versus Pittsburgh if he's limited at practice again Thursday.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Gets fifth sack
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Buckner had four total tackles, including a sack and additional tackle for a loss, and two passes defensed in Sunday's win at Carolina.
Buckner also had three QB hurries, two batted passes and a QB hit according to Pro Football Focus, as he continues to be a disruptive force. He now has five sacks for the season.
