The Indianapolis Colts are without both starting offensive tackles on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, but they do get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back from a neck injury.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) attempt to save their season on national television tonight as they host the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday Night Football.
Losers of five of the last six games, things don't get much easier for the Colts on Monday against a 49ers team already locked into a playoff spot.
The Colts will be without both starting offensive tackles, as Bernhard Raimann is out with an elbow injury suffered last week, and Braden Smith was placed on Injured Reserve with concussion/neck issues the week before. The Colts are also without top cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) for a third consecutive game, and return specialist Anthony Gould, who is out for a second straight game with a foot injury.
There is good news for the Colts, however, as they welcome back star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who returns from Injured Reserve after missing the last five games with a neck injury.
The 49ers had already ruled out starting cornerback Renardo Green (neck) and starting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) prior to gameday. They also placed linebacker Nick Martin (concussion) on IR over the weekend. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) entered the game as questionable but was cleared to play.
Here are the inactive players for both teams:
- LB Jaylon Carlies
- CB Sauce Gardner (calf)
- RB DJ Giddens
- WR Anthony Gould (foot)
- S Reuben Lowery III
- TE Will Mallory
- OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow)
With Buckner back, he may not resume his normal full workload quite yet. That could mean more work for Neville Gallimore and Adetomiwa Adebawore.
Carlies continues to be a healthy scratch after coming off of IR a couple of weeks ago.
The Colts have elevated offensive lineman Josh Sills and wide receiver Coleman Owen for gameday from the practice squad. They'll revert to the practice squad after the game. Owen filled in for Gould in the return game last week.
- DL Robert Beal Jr.
- DL Kevin Givens
- CB Renardo Green (neck)
- RB Isaac Guerendo
- CB Chase Lucas
- WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle)
- LB Curtis Robinson
San Francisco will be without some serious contributors, as Green, Pearsall, and Robinson would all typically be counted on.
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.