Buckner’s IR placement means he will miss the Colts’ next four games — a total spanning five weeks due to a Week 11 bye at Indianapolis — before he can be designated to return to action. Those games include a Sunday date with the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin followed by contests at Kansas City (Week 12) and Jacksonville (Week 14), bookending a Week 13 home date with the AFC South rival Houston Texans.
At best, the Colts could welcome Buckner back in time for their Week 15 trip to Seattle. Judging by Steichen’s tone, however, that may be wishful thinking.
Oklahoma product Neville Gallimore will take Buckner’s spot in the starting lineup along with veteran Grover Stewart, with Adetomiwa Adebawore listed behind them on the depth chart in what suddenly appears to be a thin position group.
At 7-2, the Colts have earned some room to weather such an absence. We’ll see how they try to replace Buckner’s production (42 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 13 quarterbacks) next month.