The Colts will be without one of their best players for at least the next four games.
Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been placed on injured reserve with a neck injury that he suffered last week against the Steelers, head coach Shane Steichen said today.
The Colts had already ruled Buckner out for Sunday’s game against the Falcons in Germany, but by NFL rule he will now have to miss at least three games after that.
Buckner has 42 total tackles nine tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and 4.0 sacks this season.
The Falcons’ preparations for Week 10 got shaken up on Tuesday when their opponents made a big move ahead of the trade deadline.
The Colts traded for cornerback Sauce Gardner and he’s on track to play in Sunday’s game in Berlin after clearing the concussion protocol on Thursday. On Friday, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that he’s seen other corners make immediate impacts after joining new teams in season so he expects Gardner to “figure it out” on Sunday.
Morris also said that he thinks the change is going to have more of an impact on how the Colts defend wide receiver Drake London than it will have on how the Falcons offense operates.
“It’s definitely going to affect some things we do, but it’ll probably affect them more in how they’re going to pay more attention to Drake and things of that nature,” Morris said in a press conference.
Morris said that he also expects the absence of Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to be a factor in the game and exploiting it would be a big plus for Morris’ chances of returning to the U.S. with a win.
The Colts will not have one of their key defenders for Sunday’s game against the Falcons in Germany.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been ruled out with a neck injury after he did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He will not travel with the team to Berlin.
In nine games this season, Buckner has recorded 42 total tackles with nine tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, and 4.0 sacks.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner has cleared concussion protocol and is set to make his debut with Indianapolis on Sunday. He was a full participant in Thursday’s practice, as he was on Wednesday.
Defensive end Samson Ebukam (knee), receiver Anthony Gould (knee), and defensive end Tyquan Lewis (groin) also did not participate on Thursday. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart did not practice with a rest day.
Receiver Michael Pittman (glute) and cornerback Kenny Moore (Achilles) were full participants after they did not participate on Wednesday.
The Falcons announced that left guard Matthew Bergeron (ankle), edge rusher Leonard Floyd (hamstring) and swing tackle Storm Norton (foot) will not travel to Germany with the team.
Bergeron and Floyd left Sunday’s game against the Patriots with their injuries, with Bergeron playing only three snaps and Floyd 16.
Kyle Hinton will fill in for Bergeron.
The Falcons added safety Jessie Bates (knee) to the practice report as limited, and defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) was downgraded to a non-participant.
Right guard Chris Lindstrom (foot) returned to limited work after sitting out Wednesday.
Cornerback Mike Hughes (neck), inside linebacker JD Bertrand (knee) and defensive lineman LaCale London (shoulder) remained limited a second consecutive day.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner shared his thoughts on this week’s trade to the Colts for the first time on Thursday.
The Jets traded Gardner to the Colts for two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell and Gardner shared the first thoughts that went through his mind when Jets General Manager Darren Mougey called him with news of the deal on Tuesday.
“Please let it be my ideal situation,” Gardner said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “I don’t want to go to a losing team. I don’t want to go to a team on the other side of the world.”
Gardner said the Colts fit as a desirable destination because “I want to win,” his college teammate Alec Pierce was already on the team, it was closer to his hometown of Detroit, and his favorite color is blue.
Gardner did not speak to reporters on Wednesday because he was still in the concussion protocol, but he was a full participant in practice and full clearance came before he took the podium. That puts him on track to play against the Falcons in Berlin this Sunday.
