Buckner has been one of the Colts defensive
stalwarts since being acquired in a 2020 trade with San
Francisco.
He's only missed one previous game with Indy (0-2), when he was
placed on the COVID-19 list in November 2020. Buckner also has
played through a series of injuries including a back injury for
most of the 2023 season and that was aggravated in a Week 1 loss
to Houston.
“He’s a strong presence in that defensive line room, and not
only the defensive line, but the whole defense,” defensive
coordinator Gus Bradley said before the announcement was made.
“I mean, they look to him, they see him on the field. They have
great trust in him, and know that he’s going to play his tail
off.”
The timing is especially poor for Indy, which has allowed a
league-high 474 yards rushing and two 100-yard rushers through
the first two weeks.
Plus, the Colts are getting thinner by the week on defense. Last
Tuesday, they put starting cornerback JuJu Brents on injured
reserve with a knee injury, starting safety Julian Blackmon
missed the Week 2 loss in Green Bay because of a shoulder injury
and rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu, the first defensive player
selected in April's draft at No. 15 overall, hurt his hip on
Sunday and did not return.
Losing Buckner means the Colts will need someone to fill his
void starting Sunday against the Chicago Bears. That group
includes Grover Stewart, Raekwon Davis, Adetomiwa Adebawore and
Taven Bryan.
"We’ll utilize those guys and position them where they have a
chance to succeed,” said Bradley, who has been scrutinized for
the defense's poor start this season.
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