Running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner both returned to practice as limited participants on Wednesday ahead of the Colts' Week 8 game against the Houston Texans.
Wednesday marked the first practice in a significant amount of time for both players; Taylor had not practiced since sustaining an ankle injury in Week 4's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buckner was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury in Week 2's game against the Green Bay Packers.
Since the Colts opened Buckner’s 21-day practice window to be activated from injured reserve on Wednesday, Buckner was able to begin practicing immediately and can be activated at any time in the next three weeks.
"I can't wait," linebacker Zaire Franklin said about Buckner's return. "I told him, I jumped out the bed happy today just at the idea of him coming back to practice. He's a game-changer. He's a game-wrecker. So I'm just glad to have him on our side. Look forward to seeing 99 in front of me."
In two games this season, Buckner has 1.5 sacks, seven tackles, two quarterback hits and one tackle for a loss. In the first eight years of his career, the AP All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler tallied 80 tackles for a loss, 61 sacks, 27 passes defensed, 10 fumble recoveries and nine forced fumbles in 129 games.
"When you got 99 out there, it's a different story," linebacker E.J. Speed said. "I'm glad he's back. Man, he worked hella hard."
The Indianapolis Colts hit the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center practice fields for the start of week 8 practice.
Ethan Fernea
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
CB Kenny Moore II #23 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Anthony Richardson #5
CB Kenny Moore II #23
S Julian Blackmon #32
CB Kenny Moore II #23
S Marcel Dabo #42
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
CB Samuel Womack III #33
DE Titus Leo #91
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DT Grover Stewart #90
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
TE Drew Ogletree #85
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
TE Drew Ogletree #85
TE Will Mallory #86
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and Ed Dodds - Assistant General Manager
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
DT Taven Bryan #96
LB E.J. Speed #45
QB Sam Ehlinger #4
DT DeForest Buckner #99
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
Kalon Humphries Tony Dungy - Diversity Coaching Fellow and DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DT Taven Bryan #96
WR Laquon Treadwell#17
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
WREthan Fernea#13, WR Alec Pierce #14 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Alec Pierce #14
LB Austin Ajiake #58
LB E.J. Speed #45 and LB Liam Anderson #47
WR Alec Pierce #14
LB Zaire Franklin #44 and LB Grant Stuard #41
DT DeForest Buckner #99
LB Cameron McGrone #59
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Ethan Fernea #3
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Alec Pierce #14 and Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Kwity Paye #51
DE Isaiah Land #55
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Kwity Paye #51
DE Kwity Paye #51
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT Grover Stewart #90 and Kalon Humphries Tony Dungy - Diversity Coaching Fellow
Kalon Humphries Tony Dungy - Diversity Coaching Fellow and DT Grover Stewart #90
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DT Raekwon Davis #98
DTJosiah Bronson#69
DT DeForest Buckner #99
QB Joe Flacco #15
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Taven Bryan #96
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
LS Luke Rhodes #46
DT Grover Stewart #90
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
LS Luke Rhodes #46
QB Sam Ehlinger #4
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
QB Joe Flacco #15
QB Anthony Richardson #5
CB Jaylin Simpson #30
CB David Long Jr. #34
CB Kenny Moore II #23
QB Sam Ehlinger #4
WR Laquon Treadwell#17
WR Anthony Gould #6
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Laquon Treadwell#17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Trey Sermon #27
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Sam Ehlinger #4 and QB Joe Flacco #15
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
RB Evan Hull #26
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Laquon Treadwell#17
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
It's also a different story with Taylor out on the field; the running back's ability to wait for just the right moment to make explosive runs has been missed in the weeks he has been out.
"It'll be huge," Steichen said about Taylor's return. "Getting JT back in the fold will be big. Those home run plays in the run game will be huge for us."
In four games this season, Taylor has recorded 349 yards and four touchdowns on 72 carries. In his first four seasons in the NFL, the All-Pro running back totaled 925 carries for 4,582 yards and 40 touchdowns in 53 games.
"We'll see how the week goes, but feel really good about it," Steichen said about both players playing against the Texans on Sunday. "Getting those guys back will be big for us...obviously this is a huge game, going to Houston for the division, to tie the division, would be big."
In the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Texans, Taylor had 16 carries for 48 yards and one touchdown. Buckner recorded six tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss and 1.5 sacks.
While Wednesday was a positive development for Buckner, Taylor and the team as a whole, the Colts will know more about both players' statuses for Week 8 against the Texans at the end of this week.
Wednesday's full practice report:
