Injuries have taken their toll Indianapolis Colts in the first half of the 2024 season. 13 of the 22 projected starters for the Colts have missed time in the first seven games.

But as the Colts prepare to take on Houston Texastwo of Indy’s most important pieces are ready to return to the field. Jonathan Taylor and DeForest Buckner are trending to play on Sunday as they recover from high ankle sprains. Taylor’s injury, which was seen as minor, has kept him out since Week 4. Buckner, on the other hand, hasn’t seen the field since Week 2.

Taylor and Buckner returned to the practice field this week for the first time since their ankle injuries. It’s safe to say it hasn’t been easy for these two former All-Pros to watch from the sidelines.

“Anytime you get taken off the field and you just get back on the field, it’s a great feeling,” Taylor admitted. “You’re not just sitting there watching, you’re not watching your guys go out and just have fun and run around. You’re definitely rooting for them, but you want to be out there with them. So it felt really good to be out there.”

Taylor has suffered ankle injuries in the past. His first major ankle problem came in 2022, but Taylor tried to push through it. The injury continued to worsen, and with the Colts’ dismal 2022 season nearly over, Taylor was placed on injured reserve. Surgery followed in the offseason, but it also caused Taylor to miss the first four games of last season.

Although this injury occurred on the same ankle that Taylor had problems with in the past, he admitted that this injury was nothing compared to what he had experienced. While he’s working through general soreness, everything is expected as Taylor works toward a return.

“Obviously there’s going to be some soreness for sure,” Taylor explained. “There’s going to be some soreness. You have to work through some of these things. But overall, nothing major though. Nothing that was like, ‘Hey, this is like — it’s a bad deal.’

Taylor was a full participant in practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. There have been no setbacks, and as long as Taylor feels he can do whatever is required of him, he will be out there on Sunday.

“The fact that I’m on the field now, it’s a lot better,” Taylor said. “Even though it was limited work, some individual stuff (Wednesday), I just can’t wait to get back out there today with a little more work and see how it feels.”

Buckner’s ankle injury was the more serious of the two. When he went down against the Green Bay Packers, Buckner had to be helped off the field and eventually carted to the locker room. Many within the Colts organization feared the worst.

Buckner is easily one of the toughest players on the team and has played through multiple injuries in the past. Before this season, Buckner had missed just one game in four years with the Colts, who held out because of the 2020 covid rules. So when he couldn’t continue, it was clear the injury was serious.

“It was really tough,” Buckner recalled. “I’ve definitely had a lot of injuries throughout my career and it was just one of them where I mean I knew I couldn’t go any further. I knew it was something a little bit more serious. And so, obviously we took all the scans and everything and it showed that something was really wrong, I did everything I could to get back here.

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Thankfully it was just a high ankle sprain for Buckner and nothing worse. Indy placed Buckner on injured reserve, meaning he would be out at least four games. The Pro Bowler attacked his rehab from the jump and worked to get back as quickly as possible. The Colts opened the 21-day practice window for Buckner to return this weekbut after the progress he’s already shown, he’ll be back much sooner than that.

“Feels good,” Buckner said of returning. “Obviously, the longest I’ve ever been out of the game all season. So I was going a little crazy toward the end of my little stint, but I mean I’m excited to be out there.”

Like Taylor, Buckner went from a limited participant on Wednesday to a full participant at practice on Thursday. For Buckner to return, he needs to prove he can do his thing without restrictions. He has continued to prove that this week.

“Honestly just all the different movements, especially — I mean it’s a big pass rush day (Thursday),” Buckner remarked. “You see – I’m cutting and wiggling a lot and stuff, so we’ll see how it feels today.”

All signs point to Taylor and Buckner being a good fit in Houston. The matchup carries a lot of weight for the Colts, as a win would tie them with the Texans atop the AFC South. A loss would be devastating, however, as Indy would lose the tiebreaker with the Texans and face a three-game deficit with nine contests remaining.

Taylor’s return will help bolster a Colts rushing attack that hasn’t been the same since he left. While Tyler Goodson and Trey’s sermon have been functional and Anthony Richardson always adding an element with his legs, Taylor is the Colts’ best playmaker. The offense is much more dangerous with #28 in the backfield.

The same can be said for Buckner on the defensive line. The Colts pass rush has struggled with Buckner out, especially in the middle of the front. The run defense has also seen its fair share of misery, as the Colts give up the second most yards per game on the ground. Having Buckner back will improve the entire front.

“I think it’s huge,” Steichen said of getting Taylor and Buckner back. “I think the guys that have had to step up in those situations have done a heck of a job, but getting those guys back is going to be big for us.”

Taylor and Buckner return at a crucial time. Indy needs to be as close to full strength as possible to take down the Texans on the road. The schedule doesn’t let up after this week either, with games against Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Billsand Detroit Lions threatening.

Now is the time for the Colts to play their best ball, and that can’t happen with two former All-Pros on the sidelines.

“Obviously, this is a huge game going to Houston for the division — to tie the division will be huge,” Steichen said. “So, Week 8 is huge for us. Then obviously going into November-December with these guys, getting them back is going to be huge.”

While the injuries to Taylor and Buckner have been difficult to overcome, the Colts couldn’t have picked a better time for two of their best players to return.

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