The Colts will officially have one of their key defenders back for Monday night’s game against the 49ers.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been activated off of injured reserve, Indianapolis announced on Monday.
It’s been expected that Buckner would be back for the finale of Week 16, with both Buckner and head coach Shane Steichen noting that was the plan.
Buckner now will get to face his former team after being sidelined by a neck injury. In nine games this year, Buckner has posted 5.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits.
As a corresponding move, Indianapolis waived quarterback Brett Rypien. Philip Rivers is set to start for Indianapolis on Monday night and Riley Leonard is also healthy to be the team’s backup QB.
Additionally, the Colts have elevated receiver Coleman Owen and guard Josh Sills from the practice squad to the active roster for Monday’s matchup with San Francisco.
The Colts have made an update to their injury report for Monday night’s game against the 49ers.
Left tackle Bernhard Raimann has been ruled out for the game. Raimann was initially listed as questionable to play with an elbow injury.
Luke Tenuta will likely get the start in place of Raimann. The Colts also have right tackle Braden Smith on injured reserve, so there will be backups on both sides of the line as they try to keep their playoff hopes flickering.
The Colts have also ruled out cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Anthony Gould. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was the only other player listed as questionable and will need to be activated from injured reserve to play on Monday night.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall won’t be in the 49ers’ lineup when they face the Colts on Monday night.
Pearsall missed practice all this week because of knee and ankle injuries that led the 49ers to rule him out on Saturday’s injury report. It will be the seventh game that Pearsall has missed due to injury this season.
Pearsall has 31 catches for 443 yards in his eight appearances this season.
The 49ers also ruled out cornerback Renardo Green with a neck injury. Green was limited in practice all week with a neck injury, so the team may be hoping to get him back to 100 percent for Week 17.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke (knee) won’t be activated from injured reserve and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) is questionable to make his return.
Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner officially will not return for Week 16.
Gardner has been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the 49ers due to his calf injury.
The star cornerback has not been able to practice or play since suffering the injury during Indianapolis’ Nov. 30 loss to the Texans.
But, via James Boyd of TheAthletic.com, Steichen said Gardner will play again this season.
Gardner appeared in three games for the Colts after the Jets traded him to Indianapolis. In 10 total games this season, Gardner has recorded 33 total tackles with eight passes defensed.
Receiver Anthony Gould (foot) has also been ruled out for Monday’s game while Steichen noted offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann’s status for Monday is uncertain. Raimann was able to participate on Saturday after he did not practice on Thursday or Friday.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) will play on Monday after missing the last five games. He will have to be activated off of injured reserve.
It looks like Alec Pierce will be able to play when the Colts go against the 49ers on Monday night. But cornerback Sauce Gardner does not look poised to return from his calf injury.
Pierce (foot) was upgraded to a full participant on Friday after he was limited on Thursday.
Gardner, however, remained sidelined as a non-participant. Receiver Anthony Gould (foot) and offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (elbow) also were DNPs on Friday.
Guard Quenton Nelson (wrist) was downgraded from full on Thursday to limited on Friday.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson (eye) remained limited as the Colts get him back on the field in his 21-day practice window to return from IR.
Receiver Josh Downs and linebacker Germaine Pratt were both back on the field as full participants after each missed Thursday’s session for personal reasons.
Running back Ameer Abdullah (neck), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck), and safety Daniel Scott (knee) all remained full.
