Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

The Indianapolis Colts placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve Tuesday due to a reported high ankle sprain.

Buckner, 30, was carted off in the third quarter of the Colts’ 16-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Packers running back Emanuel Wilson fell on Buckner’s ankle, causing it to bend awkwardly.

The durable veteran, who has missed just two games with injuries in his nine-year career, will miss at least four games, per league rules. The earliest he’ll be eligible to return is an Oct. 20 matchup against the visiting Miami Dolphins.

Buckner has 1.5 sacks and seven tackles in two games (one start) so far. He has 62.5 career sacks with the San Francisco 49ers (2016-19) and Colts. He has started 126 of the 131 games he’s played in, making the Pro Bowl three times and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2020.

Buckner signed a two-year extension with the Colts in April, a deal that takes effect next season. He’s in the final year of a four-year, $84 million deal.

The Colts on Tuesday also signed defensive end Genard Avery to the active roster. Avery missed all of last season after a preseason injury resulted in surgery on his LCL/meniscus. Avery has 106 tackles, 29 quarterback hits and 8.5 sacks in 62 career games (17 starts) with the Cleveland Browns (2018-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2019-21) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022).

Other moves by the Colts Tuesday include signing defensive tackle Adam Gotsis, cornerback Gregory Junior and defensive end Titus Leo to the practice squad and releasing defensive tackle McTelvin Agim and cornerback Ameer Speed from the practice squad.

The Colts (0-2) next face the Chicago Bears (1-1) in Indianapolis on Sunday.

–Field Level Media