The Indianapolis Colts activated defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from injured reserve on Saturday.
Buckner had been sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in the Colts’ 16-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 15.
Buckner, 30, had missed just two games in nine NFL seasons before the current five-game absence. The team opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday.
Buckner is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and also was a first-team All-Pro in 2020, his first season with the Colts. He was second team All-Pro in 2019 during the last of four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Buckner has 62.5 career sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles and 551 career tackles in 131 games (126 starts). He has 1.5 sacks in two games (one start) this season.
Also Saturday, the Colts activated Cameron McGrone from injured reserve, placed fellow linebacker Jaylon Carlies on IR and waived running back Evan Hull.
McGrone, 24, was placed on injured reserve prior to the season with an ankle injury. He has five tackles in 13 career games with Indianapolis.
Carlies, 23, has totaled 21 tackles and one sack in seven games (three starts) this season since being selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The rookie has been dealing with a leg injury.
Indianapolis also elevated cornerback Kelvin Joseph to the active roster from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the host Houston Texans.
