INDIANAPOLIS — The structural integrity of the Indianapolis Colts’ defense, once considered a potential strength, is facing a severe stress test as the unit absorbs the loss of two foundational stars.
The prolonged absence of All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who remains on Injured Reserve with a neck injury, has created a vacuum in the heart of the defensive line that the Colts have been unable to fill. Despite significant draft capital and financial investment in the edge rush, the interior disruption and consistent pocket collapse Buckner provides has been sorely missed. While rookie Laiatu Latu has shown flashes of pressure, the finishing production hasn’t materialized, leaving a critical gap in the defense’s core.
Now, a second seismic blow has landed.
Star cornerback Sauce Gardner suffered a calf injury in Sunday’s game, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday. While initial fears of a season-ending Achilles injury were alleviated, Gardner will miss an “undetermined amount of time.”
The ripple effect of Gardner’s exit was instantaneous and profound. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was forced to abandon the team’s planned static cornerback scheme, where Gardner and Charvarius Ward would man the right and left sides, respectively. In a dramatic mid-game adjustment, Ward was assigned the daunting task of shadowing Houston’s top receiver, Nico Collins, for the remainder of the contest—a role he is now expected to maintain against opposing WR1s.
This strategic shift places a significantly heavier workload on Ward and exposes the depth behind him, a scenario the coaching staff had hoped to avoid.
The Glimmer of Hope: There is a timeline for Buckner’s return. League sources, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter, confirm the Colts expect the defensive anchor back before the season’s end, though he is mandated to miss at least one more game. His return cannot come soon enough for a unit now scrambling to patch holes at every level.
Bottom Line: The Colts’ defensive identity is in flux. The loss of Buckner removed its engine room. The loss of Gardner has now stripped away its premier lockdown capability. How the team navigates this compounded crisis will define their season’s trajectory. All eyes are on the medical staff and the next men up.
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