Colts get injury bug early

by Eaazeho | 3 weeks ago | 0 Comments

Colts Lose Two to IR in Back-to-Back Preseason Gut Punches

The Colts can’t catch a break—literally.

Safety Nick Cross was the first to fall, cracking a rib in Week 1 of the preseason. Then, just a week later, star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner went down with a dislocated left knee. Both landed on IR, and the team responded by shutting down starters for Week 3 as damage control.

Cross wasn’t just a rising name—he was a cornerstone in the Colts’ secondary. To fill the void, the team turned to a familiar face, signing veteran Malik Hooker to stabilize the back end.

Buckner’s absence looms large, but inside the building, there’s buzz—not panic. That’s because rookie Rodd Donnelly, the 336-pound monster out of Florida State, has been turning heads all camp. With strength numbers off the charts and a chip on his shoulder, Donnelly is set to take on a massive role earlier than expected.

“We're not folding,” said one team source. “This is why you draft tough.”

The Colts are bruised, but they’re not broken. And as the regular season nears, all eyes are now on the next men up.