The Indianapolis Colts placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve Tuesday with a sprained ankle.
Buckner, 30, was taken out in the third quarter of the Colts’ 16-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Packers running back Emmanuel Wilson fell on Buckner’s ankle, causing him to twist his ankle awkwardly.
The veteran, who has missed just two games due to injury in his nine-year career, must miss at least four games per league rules. The earliest he will be eligible to return is the Oct. 20 game against the Miami Dolphins.
Buckner has 1.5 sacks and seven tackles in two games (one start) so far. He has 62.5 sacks in his career with the San Francisco 49ers (2016-19) and the Colts. He has started in 126 of the 131 games he has played, made the Pro Bowl three times and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2020.
Buckner signed a two-year extension with the Colts in April, a deal that takes effect next season. He is in the final year of a four-year, $84 million deal.
The Colts also added defensive end Genard Avery to the active roster on Tuesday. Avery missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his LCL/meniscus following an injury suffered in the preseason. Avery has 106 tackles, 29 quarterback hits and 8.5 sacks in 62 career games (17 starts) with the Cleveland Browns (2018-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2019-21) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022).
Other moves the Colts made on Tuesday included adding defensive tackle Adam Gotsis, cornerback Gregory Jr. and defensive end Titus Leo to the practice squad and releasing defensive tackle McTelvin Agim and cornerback Ameer Speed from the practice squad.
The Colts (0-2) next face the Chicago Bears (1-1) on Sunday in Indianapolis.
–Field Level Media
