The division-leading Indianapolis Colts will be without defensive anchor DeForest Buckner for at least their next four games.
Indianapolis placed the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle on injured reserve Friday with a neck injury.
Buckner, 31, already had been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin.
He also will miss the Colts’ games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars from Weeks 12-14. Indianapolis has a bye next week. His earliest return is Dec. 14 at the Seattle Seahawks.
Buckner sustained the injury during last weekend’s 27-20 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has only missed six games to injury in his 10-year NFL career, five of them last season with an IR stint for an ankle injury.
He ranks second on the Colts with 4.0 sacks to go along with 42 tackles and 13 QB hits in nine starts this season.
Buckner has 71.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries and 647 tackles in 150 games (145 starts) with San Francisco (2016-19) and Indianapolis. The 49ers drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick in 2016.
The Colts (7-2) also have ruled out defensive ends Samson Ebukam (knee) and Tyquan Lewis (groin) for Sunday’s game against the Falcons (3-5). Both also missed the last two games.
