The Colts currently sit at 8-5 with four games left in the regular season. Quarterback Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in their Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the news that the Colts would be bringing the highly-regarded veteran quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement to join their practice squad injected some “juice” into the locker room. They know they still have everything ahead of them and still have the pieces to be successful, and Buckner’s return only solidifies that belief.
However, the Colts cornerback room suffered another blow on Wednesday with the news that Charvarius Ward Sr. was placed on injured reserve for the second time this season. Ward was placed in concussion protocol on Monday – the third time he’s entered protocol this year – and will now miss at least the Colts’ final four games of the 2025 regular season.
“I think that’s what’s most important, and what’s most paramount right now, is how he is as human,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said Tuesday. “Forget about the football player part of it. I just really want him to be okay, and that’s what’s most important, dealing with all that right now.
Sauce Gardner, who sustained a calf injury in Week 13, did not practice on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive practice the two-time All-Pro has missed. Head coach Shane Steichen said last week that while Gardner will not be placed on injured reserve, he is expected to miss time while rehabbing from the injury.
The healthy members of the Colts cornerback room heading into Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks are currently Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Jones, Mekhi Blackmon, Johnathan Edwards and Cameron Mitchell.