INDIANAPOLIS – No sooner do the Indianapolis Colts add one top-tier player to their defense than another is ruled out.
Tackle DeForest Buckner, the undeniable cornerstone of Lou Anarumo’s defense, has been ruled out and will not make the trip to Berlin for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Buckner suffered a neck injury in last Sunday’s loss at Pittsburgh and has not practiced this week.
His absence coincides with cornerback Sauce Gardner being acquired in Tuesday’s blockbuster trade with the New York Jets and being cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Gardner is expected to start.
Buckner has started all nine games this season and 82 or 87 games since being acquired in a 2020 trade with the San Francisco 49ers.
This season, Buckner has 4 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and 42 tackles.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.