The Colts have placed DT DeForest Buckner on IR after MRI confirmed a high-ankle sprain, according to Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star. That means Buckner will miss at least the next four games. The veteran had missed just one game because of injury through Week 2 of his ninth season (plus one more for a positive COVID test).
Atkins: "[The Colts] potentially have four options to play in his 3-technique spot in veteran Taven Bryan, second-year pass rusher Adetomiwa Adebawore and inside-outside players Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis. On obvious run downs, the Colts could also play two nose tackles in [Grover] Stewart and Raekwon Davis."
Adebawore is interesting. He lit up the 2023 Scouting Combine with a 4.49-second 40 time at 282 pounds to post a 100th-percentile speed score among D-linemen. But that followed limited college production. And then he slipped to Round 4 and has played just 168 NFL snaps to date.
Odeyingbo probably stands the best chance of returning IDP value. He played 37% and 46% of snaps over the first two weeks of this season. The former second-round pick notched 2 QB hits in the opening loss to Houston and then collected 4 solos with 1 tackle for loss against Green Bay.
The defense on whole will suffer for Buckner's absence. He led all Colts linemen last season in both run stops and Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade.
Indy's fine as a fringe starting option in our Week 3 DST rankings vs. a Bears offense that struggled the first two weeks, but I wouldn't plan on using the Colts against the Steelers in Week 4.
Let's take a look at the last 3 winning rosters in the FFPC's Divisional Round Playoff Challenge ... and see what we can learn about how to win this year.
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