The Colts on Wednesday opened defensive tackle DeForest Buckner's 21-day practice window to be activated from injured reserve, head coach Shane Steichen said.
Buckner will begin participating in practice immediately and can be activated from injured reserve at any point in the next three weeks.
The 30-year-old Buckner sustained a back injury in the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Houston Texans but managed to play a week later; Buckner sustained an ankle injury in the Colts' Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers and was placed on injured reserve. Buckner has missed the Colts' last five games.
Over two games this season, Buckner has 1.5 sacks, seven tackles, two quarterback hits and one tackle for a loss. This has been his first trip to injured reserve in his nine-year career; Buckner previously only missed one game due to injury in his career, which came in 2016 as a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers.
Since being acquired by the Colts from the 49ers for a first-round draft pick in 2020, Buckner has 34 sacks, 89 quarterback hits and 43 tackles for a loss over 68 games. He was named a first-team AP All-Pro in 2020 and earned Pro Bowl nods in 2021 and 2023.
Steichen said running back Jonathan Taylor will participate in practice on Wednesday as well. The Colts additionally opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Cameron McGrone, who was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return in August.
