The Indianapolis Colts‘ season has taken a 180-degree turn from the first 8 weeks of the 2025 regular season. Indy began the season 7-1 and now finds themselves at 8-6.
The Colts will need to win out their final three games of the season, against opponents who have 9 wins or more, to make the playoffs.
Indianapolis has been plagued with injuries the last few weeks and is running thin at a few positions. But head coach Shane Steichen recently announced that one of the team’s key defenders will return in Week 16, which can set the Colts on track to make the playoffs.
Three-Time Pro Bowler Returns To Squad
GettyThe Colts will get some much needed help in the defensive front with a player returning from injured reserve
The Indianapolis Colts will get some help in their defensive front four with the return of DeForest Buckner to the roster, head coach Shane Steichen announced.
The defensive tackle will make his first appearance for the team since Week 9, when he suffered a neck injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The confidence [I have] with my neck from getting symptoms and certain movements,” Buckner responded when asked how he knew he was good to return to the game-day field.
Buckner will make his return against his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, on Monday Night Football.
“I still know some guys on the team, still got some buddies on the team,” the DT said when asked about facing his former team. “It’s always gonna be fun to go up against them and see them on game day.”
Buckner will add some much-needed veteran leadership to the Colts’ defense. Before going down with his injury, the former Oregon Duck registered 4 sacks and 42 tackles. The defender currently has an overall grade of 74.9 from Pro Football Focus, the 11th-highest among 129 qualifying defensive interiors.
Adding back the Pro Bowler in the final stretch of the season will be a huge momentum boost for the Colts. The last two games of the season will be divisional games, which could also put Indy in a position to potentially win the AFC South in the final week of the regular season and secure their spot in the postseason.
Star Cornerback Out For Second Straight Week
GettySauce Gardner may only miss a few weeks with a calf strain
While the Colts may be receiving some good news, they also get some bad news in return.
Shane Steichen also announced that cornerback Sauce Gardner will not play in the game against the 49ers, dealing a big blow to an already injury-plagued Colts DB room.
Indianapolis is already without $54 million signing Charvarius Ward, who is in the concussion protocol for the third time this season and will be out for the remainder of the regular season — who can return if the Colts make the playoffs.
Gardner was part of a trade deadline deal in which Indy traded for the Pro Bowl cornerback in exchange for two first-round draft picks and a player.
The final three weeks will be crucial for the Colts to make the playoffs and they will need everything to go picture-perfect if they want to play in the postseason.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Colts Reveal Good News Ahead Of Matchup Against 49ers appeared first on Heavy Sports.