Over his first eight seasons in the NFL, DeForest Buckner only missed two games – one due to a foot injury as a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, and another due to COVID-19 protocols with the Colts in 2020.
Buckner has a long history of toughing out injuries to still play on Sundays, including when he got on the field for the Colts' Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers this year despite not practicing all week with a back injury. But the ankle injury Buckner sustained at Lambeau Field, though, was severe enough to land him on injured reserve for the first time.
"That was tough for sure," Buckner said. "I've definitely had a lot injuries in my career and that just one of them where I knew I couldn't go anymore, I knew it was something a little more serious."
On Wednesday, the Colts opened Buckner's 21-day practice window, meaning he's been able to participate in practice the last two days and can be activated off injured reserve at any point before Nov. 13. Buckner was listed as a full participant in Thursday's practice (he was limited Wednesday) and will continue testing his ankle this week before a decision is made on his availability for Sunday's Week 8 AFC South showdown with the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Buckner said Thursday was an important day for seeing how his ankle would respond to certain pass rushing moves.
"Just being out that long, especially throughout the season, I was itching to be out there to help my team and these guys," Buckner said. "It was tough watching from the sidelines knowing I can't do anything to help. So I was just doing everything I could in the rehab process and really attacking each day."
The Indianapolis Colts hit the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center practice fields on Thursday of week 8 practice.
RB Tyler Goodson #31
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DT DeForest Buckner #99
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
QB Anthony Richardson #5, QB Sam Ehlinger #4 and QB Joe Flacco #15
QB Joe Flacco #15 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Taven Bryan #96
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Kwity Paye #51
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DT Grover Stewart #90
CB Jaylin Simpson #30
S Rodney Thomas II #25
S Rodney Thomas II #25 and Brent Stockstill Defensive Assistant
LS Luke Rhodes #46 and P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
S Rodney Thomas II #25
S Rodney Thomas II #25
DT DeForest Buckner #99
S Rodney Thomas II #25
CB David Long Jr. #34 and CBKelvin Joseph#38
S Nick Cross #20
CB Kenny Moore II #23, CB Jaylon Jones #40 and S Julian Blackmon #32
S Nick Cross #20
LB Grant Stuard #41, LB Austin Ajiake #58 and LB E.J. Speed #45
LB E.J. Speed #45 and LB Liam Anderson #47
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DE Kwity Paye #51
CB Chris Lammons #35 and CB David Long Jr. #34
RB Jonathan Taylor #28, RB Evan Hull #26 and RBSalvon Ahmed#36
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Jaylon Jones #40
RB Jonathan Taylor #28, RB Evan Hull #26 and RBSalvon Ahmed#36
CB Jaylon Jones #40
RB Evan Hull #26 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
S Julian Blackmon #32
RB Tyler Goodson #31 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
S Nick Cross #20
CBKelvin Joseph#38
RB Tyler Goodson #31 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
RB Tyler Goodson #31 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
CB Jaylon Jones #40
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Grover Stewart #90
CB Samuel Womack III #33
CB Samuel Womack III #33
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
DT Grover Stewart #90
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Josh Downs #1
CB Samuel Womack III #33
CB David Long Jr. #34
38 CB Kelvin Joseph
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
36 RB Salvon Ahmed
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
Shane Steichen Head Coach
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
TE Will Mallory #86
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
13 WR Ethan Fernea
LS Luke Rhodes #46
WR Josh Downs #1
QB Joe Flacco #15 and 36 RB Salvon Ahmed
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
RB Tyler Goodson #31
TE Sean McKeon 49
RB Trey Sermon #27 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
Kyle Davis - Head Athletic Trainer, Shane Steichen Head Coach and Jim Bob Cooter Offensive Coordinator
LB Grant Stuard #41
RB Tyler Goodson #31 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
WR Anthony Gould #6
LB Liam Anderson #47, LB Segun Olubi #50 and LB E.J. Speed #45
RB Trey Sermon #27
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Kylen Granson #83
TE Drew Ogletree #85
WR Alec Pierce #14
QB Sam Ehlinger #4
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
QB Anthony Richardson #5
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Anthony Richardson #5
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
Graham Howe - IT Director
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
48 S Ronnie Harrison Jr. and WR Josh Downs #1
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
DE Derek Rivers69
RB Evan Hull #26
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RBSalvon Ahmed#36
RB Evan Hull #26
RB Evan Hull #26
Buckner spent the last five weeks working through an intentional and intense rehab process, spending countless hours in the training room at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center and working with his private defensive line coach at Grand Park in Westfield and Ozwell Fitness in Carmel. Just getting back on the practice fields this week, though, has been an important step for Buckner – whether he's cleared to play this weekend in Houston or not.
"It feels great," Buckner said. "Obviously it's the longest time I've ever been away from the game throughout the season. So I was starting to get a little stir crazy toward the end of my little stay but I'm excited to be out there."
Jonathan Taylor update
Taylor (ankle) also was listed as a full participant after being limited in Wednesday's practice. He said he felt "some soreness" after participating in his first practice since Week 4, but said it's "nothing major."
We'll get our first sense of Taylor and Buckner's availability for the Texans game on Friday, when the Colts release their final practice report of Week 8 – which will include game status designations (questionable/doubtful/out).
Thursday's full practice report:
