The Indianapolis Colts get starting defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back from Injured Reserve on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) are due to host Monday Night Football this week for the first time since 2022, as they welcome the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Things have plummeted out of the Colts' favor since November — losing five of their last six games after a 7-1 start — but they have received a bit of good news: DeForest Buckner is back.
Buckner has been on Injured Reserve since suffering a neck injury in Week 9. However, he returned to practice last week and participated each day (save for a rest this Saturday), ultimately earning clearance to come off the IR list.
The Colts subsequently waived quarterback Brett Rypien from the active roster, and called up wide receiver Coleman Owen and guard Josh Sills from the practice squad for Monday's game. The pair will revert to the practice squad afterward.
Here is how both teams' health is shaping up ahead of Monday evening's matchup.
COLTS
THURSDAY
- Did Not Participate — WR Josh Downs (personal), CB Sauce Gardner (calf), WR Anthony Gould (foot), LB Germaine Pratt (personal), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow)
- Limited Participant — WR Alec Pierce (Achilles), QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IR-eye)
- Full Participant — RB Ameer Abdullah (knee), DT DeForest Buckner (IR-neck), G Quenton Nelson (wrist), S Daniel Scott (IR-knee)
FRIDAY
- Did Not Participate — CB Sauce Gardner (calf), WR Anthony Gould (foot), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow), DT Grover Stewart (rest)
- Limited Participant — G Quenton Nelson (wrist), QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IR-eye)
- Full Participant — RB Ameer Abdullah (knee), DT DeForest Buckner (IR-neck), WR Josh Downs (personal), WR Alec Pierce (Achilles), LB Germaine Pratt (personal), S Daniel Scott (IR-knee)
SATURDAY
- Did Not Participate — DT DeForest Buckner (rest), LB Zaire Franklin (rest), CB Sauce Gardner (calf), WR Anthony Gould (foot),
- Limited Participant — DE Samson Ebukam (rest), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow), QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IR-eye)
- Full Participant — WR Josh Downs (personal), CB Johnathan Edwards (full), DE Tyquan Lewis (chest), G Quenton Nelson (wrist), WR Alec Pierce (Achilles), LB Germaine Pratt (personal), S Daniel Scott (IR-knee), DT Grover Stewart (rest)
OUT — CB Sauce Gardner (calf), WR Anthony Gould (foot), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow), QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IR-eye), S Daniel Scott (IR-knee)
Owen replaces Gould in the lineup, as he did last week in his NFL debut. Sills will provide depth in the absence of Raimann and Braden Smith.
Raimann suffered his injury early last week against the Seattle Seahawks and did not return. He was replaced in the lineup by Luke Tenuta. The Colts were already down Smith, who went on injured reserve last week with a concussion/neck injury.
Gardner and Gould remain sidelined. This is a third consecutive misses game for Gardner, and a second for Gould.
Richardson and Scott both returned to practice this week while on IR. Richardson was injured in pregame warmups during Week 6, and Scott was injured in Week 4.
49ERS
THURSDAY
- Did Not Participate — G Spencer Burford (knee/ankle), DT Jordan Elliott (knee), LB Nick Martin (concussion), RB Christian McCaffrey (rest), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), OT Trent Williams (rest)
- Limited Participant — LB Tatum Bethune (ankle), CB Renardo Green (neck), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (IR-hamstring), DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle)
- Full Participant — QB Kurtis Rourke (NFI-knee)
FRIDAY
- Did Not Participate — LB Nick Martin (concussion), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle),
- Limited Participant — LB Tatum Bethune (ankle), G Spencer Burford (knee/ankle), DT Jordan Elliott (knee), CB Renardo Green (neck), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (IR-hamstring), DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle)
- Full Participant — RB Christian McCaffrey (rest), QB Kurtis Rourke (NFI-knee), OT Trent Williams (rest), LB Dee Winters (wrist)
SATURDAY
- Did Not Participate — DE Yetur Gross-Matos (IR-hamstring), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle),
- Limited Participant — CB Renardo Green (neck),
- Full Participant — LB Tatum Bethune (ankle), G Spencer Burford (knee/ankle), DT Jordan Elliott (knee), RB Christian McCaffrey (rest), DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle), QB Kurtis Rourke (NFI-knee), OT Trent Williams (rest), LB Dee Winters (wrist)
QUESTIONABLE — DE Yetur Gross-Matos (IR-hamstring)
OUT — CB Renardo Green (neck), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), QB Kurtis Rourke (NFI-knee)
Green and Pearsall being out is a tough blow for San Francisco, as both are starters.
The 49ers placed Martin on IR over the weekend. They also activated Gross-Matos from IR, although he still appears to be questionable. They also elevated cornerback Eli Apple and linebacker Eric Kendricks from the practice squad for Monday's game.
The Colts and 49ers face off on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium on ABC/ESPN.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.