BERLIN — The Indianapolis Colts landed in Germany without their most disruptive defensive player, and it turns out they will be without him for a while.
That’s because starting defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was placed on injured reserve Friday after suffering a neck injury in the Colts’ Week 9 loss to the Steelers.
“He’s as tough as they get,” coach Shane Steichen said Friday after the team’s practice at Berlin’s Olympiapark.
The Colts are hopeful Buckner can return at some point this season, but he’ll miss at least the next four games, and his absence will be a blow to the defense for however long he is out. Buckner leads the Colts with 20 pressures despite facing double-teams on 64.2% of his pass-rush snaps.
Safety Cam Bynum said: “That’s tough. Buck is obviously one of the best in the league at his position and one of our leaders on this defense. But it’s the next man up. And I know that Buck is going to do everything he can to get back healthy and take care of his body.”
The Colts are dealing with an assortment of defensive injuries ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. They will also be without defensive ends Tyquan Lewis (groin) and Samson Ebukam (knee).
But those developments are somewhat offset by the addition of cornerback Sauce Gardner, who will make his Colts debut against the Falcons after Tuesday’s blockbuster trade with the New York Jets.
