Former Oregon Ducks’ star placed on injured reserve by the Indianapolis Colts

DeForest Buckner has missed just one game due to injury during his nine-year career. The Indianapolis Colts' durable defensive lineman will miss a few games after the team placed him on the injured reserve list on Tuesday with a right high ankle sprain he sustained during the Colts' 16-10 Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Buckner will miss at least the next four games, which will be the longest absence of his career. The earliest Buckner could return is the Colts' Week 7 home game against the Miami Dolphins.

The only game Buckner has missed due to an injury was a Week 5 game in 2016. He sustained a foot injury and did not play in the 49ers' 33-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He missed a Week 12 game against the Tennessee Titans due to COVID in 2020.

"Knowing who he is, how much it means to be out there every single play, I told him it broke my heart when the IR came off across social media last night, " Indianapolis linebacker Zaire Franklin told Colts.com. "I didn't even text him because I just knew what he was going through. So I know it's killing him ."

Since 2018, only two interior defensive linemen in the league - the now-retired Aaron Donald and Kansas City's Chris Jones - have more than Buckner's 53.5 sacks. Because of his durability, Buckner also has one of the highest snap counts among defensive tackles.

The loss of the three-time Pro Bowler is a major blow to a defensive unit that is struggling.

The defense has allowed a league-worst 474 rushing yards to the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers in the first two games. The Colts (0-2) are 31st in yards allowed this season as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears (1-1) in a Week 3 game.