The Colts ruled out two of their defensive linemen on Sunday, but each appears to have a short-term road to recovery, relatively speaking.
According to NFL Network Ian Rapoport and NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Indianapolis Colts’ DeForest Buckner (ankle) and rookie Laiatu Latu (hip) appear to have avoided serious injury—but will undergo further testing (an MRI specifically in Buckner’s case) to determine the full extent of their respective injuries:
#Colts DL DeForest Buckner, one of the NFL’s most durable players, suffered an ankle sprain that is expected to make him a long-shot for next week against the #Bears, sources say. X-Rays were negative, MRI is coming. The belief is the sprain is not a severe one. pic.twitter.com/CTltJfNFQ8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2024
Source: #Colts rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu, who left Sunday’s game vs the #Packers with a hip injury, “should be fine.”
Latu will undergo further tests today to confirm, but it appears Indy dodged a bullet. pic.twitter.com/9TFmuxUkm8
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 16, 2024
While it sounds like either defensive lineman could still miss at least a game or two (especially in Buckner’s cases), it appears as though both respective recovery timetables appear be rather short-term in nature, all things considered.
Each of Buckner and Latu suffered their injuries during the second half of Sunday’s loss against the Green Bay Packers and were subsequently ruled out late in the 4th quarter.
On the season, Buckner has 7 tackles (5 solo) and 1.5 sacks, while the rookie Latu has a tackle during the Colts’ first two games.
In other injury news, Colts star workhorse Jonathan Taylor indicated that he was not injured late in the game on Sunday, even though he did not play in the 4th quarter. Taylor had a fumble late in the third quarter (that went out along the sideline, thanks to teammate Ashton Dulin’s self-awareness) and also a critical 4th and 4 drop early in the 3rd quarter (although quarterback Anthony Richardson’s ball placement could’ve admittedly been a whole lot better).
However, it’s possible that the Colts were playing from behind and simply wanted more of a pass catching back like Tyler Goodson out on the field in the 4th quarter—but even between-the-tackles backup Trey Sermon got a carry ahead of the two minute warning. Taylor played 96% of the team’s total snaps in Week 1. This week, it was at just 52%, adding credence to the speculation that something may have been up behind the scenes.