INDIANAPOLIS – They’ve been a tag-team duo since 2020.
Grover Stewart, whose jovial disposition belies the hell he creates as a 314-pound nose tackle.
And DeForest Buckner, one of the NFL’s premier 3-technique tackles.
“We’ve just been like a great bond, man,’’ Stewart said Wednesday. “Buck doin’ his thing, I’m doin’ my thing.
“When we’re both in there together, man, it’s hard to know who to block. The chemistry between me and Buck is something else.’’
Exhibit A
Last Sunday’s 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
It was an afternoon of offensive excellence – points on six of the first seven possessions, including three more touchdowns from Jonathan Taylor – and defensive struggles.
Except when the defense needed a stop.
There was safety Nick Cross’ end-zone interception of Justin Herbert, the third straight game Lou Anarumo’s defense generated a red-zone takeaway.
And there was Buckner and Stewart doin’ their thing.
Buckner accounted for two sacks and nine pressures of Herbert, according to Pro Football Focus, despite facing double-teams much of the day. The second was a 12-yard throwdown of Herbert with 4 minutes remaining that essentially derailed any thoughts of a Chargers’ comeback.
And then there was Stewart.
Buckner’s eyes lit up when he considered the contribution of his partner in crimes against offenses.
“Pure joy,’’ he said. “That was awesome.’’
The Chargers trailed 20-3 in the second quarter, but Herbert stood over a third-and-3 at the Indy 28. The protection was faulty from the snap, with Stewart and Buckner pushing hard inside.
Buckner was being double-teamed by guard Zion Johnson and center Bradley Bozeman. Herbert looked to his left, but the 6-7 Buckner forced him to pull the football back by waving his extended right arm in the throwing lane.
On the re-load, Herbert turned his attention to the right, unleashed and . . . Stewart swatted the football into the air with his right hand.
“Big-man pick!’’ shouted CBS analyst J.J. Watt. “Big-man pick!’’
All Buckner could do was watch as things unfolded.
“I was stuck on a guy and I just saw the ball,’’ he said. “I’m over there, ‘Catch it, Grove.’’’
Grove did.
First, Stewart had to locate the deflected football.
Coordinator Lou Anarumo compared the play to a catcher trying to locate a pop foul.
“Kind of like, ‘Where’s the ball?’’’ He said. “And all of a sudden, there was the ball and he was able to make the catch.
“That was a true example of rushing/coverage working together because the quarterback held the ball because we changed the coverage a little bit there. Wasn’t sure where to go with it. Grove got his hands up and just make a heckuva play.’’
Only one thing was on Stewart’s mind.
“I said, ‘I can’t drop it. I’ve gotta keep it. They’re going to try to scratch and claw and try to get it out of my hands,’ he said. “And I wasn’t going to let them.’’
Consider it a reward for a player whose work often goes unnoticed. Stewart does much of the dirty work on the interior with 377 tackles, 43 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 131 games.
“I’m a big guy in the middle who stops up everything,’’ he said. “I make a mess in the middle.’’
And Buckner?
“He’s the guy who’s gonna stop the run and get after that quarterback,’’ Steward said.
Buckner has exceeded expectations that followed him to Indy from San Francisco after the March 2020 trade. It cost general manager Chris Ballard the 13th overall pick in the draft, but the investment has included 42 sacks, 112 quarterback hits, 378 tackles, 95 tackles for a loss and one safety.
The sacks are the 4th-most in Colts’ history and most by a tackle.
But there’s one thing missing on Buckner’s resume.
He’s never done what Stewart did against the Chargers.
He’s never intercepted a pass.
“That’s a box I’ve got to check,’’ Buckner said.
Stewart’s interception was his first at any level. He’s just the fourth Colts’ d-lineman with an interception in the past quarter-century. He joins Laiatu Latu (two this season), Tyquan Lewis (2021) and Ellis Johnson (2000, against Green Bay’s Brett Favre).
“Couldn’t be more proud, man,’’ Lewis said. “That’s my best friend. Lot of joy with that.’’
Stewart has the football stuffed in his cubicle in the locker room, and admitted the interception is the best individual play in a career that began when the Colts selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. He’s appeared in 131 games, 99 as a starter and 88 since Buckner’s arrival.
Prior to the interception against Herbert, Stewart ranked a sack of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes in 2019 as his best individual moment.
“It was prime time and it was Patrick Mahomes and they were rollin’,’’ Stewart said. “But I’ll take that interception any time.’’
Jones, Downs practicing
There was encouraging news on the injury front. Cornerback Jaylon Jones (hamstring) and wideout Josh Downs (concussion) each practiced on a limited basis.
Jones was placed on the injured reserve list Sept. 13 after re-injuring his left hamstring in the opener against Miami. He first injured the hamstring July 29 in training camp.
The Colts opened the 21-day practice window for Jones, and he gave the impression he’ll return to the field sooner rather than later.
“We’re taking it day-by-day and being cautious,’’ Jones said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “It’s hard because you know you want to be out there, but definitely taking the right steps getting those soft-tissue injuries back right.’’
Considering he’s missed the past six games, it’s uncertain whether Jones will be cleared for Sunday’s game with Tennessee at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“We’ll see how the week goes,’’ Shane Steichen said. “But our training staff has done a helluva job ramping him up to this point.’’
Jones’ return will be a definite boost to the cornerbacks room. Charvarius Ward (concussion), Mike Hilton (shoulder) and Justin Walley (knee) also are on IR. Ward must miss at least the next two games.
“I just want to contribute, man, and be a part of the guys and fly around with them,’’ Jones said.
The 2023 seventh-round draft pick started 27 games in his first two seasons.
Downs’ participation in practice was the next step as he works through the NFL’s concussion protocol. He suffered head trauma in the week 6 win over Arizona.
Also, Steichen described defensive end Samson Ebukam “week-to-week’’ with an injury to his right knee and defensive end Tyquan Lewis “day-to-day’’ with a groin injury.
Ashton Dulin, who missed the Chargers game with a chest injury, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.