The Indianapolis Colts may not be done making moves after sending Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that “Sources: The #Colts are also actively shopping DT DeForest Buckner. I expect him to be moved soon if the right offer comes in,” adding later that “League wide expectation is the #49ers will respond next,” which puts San Francisco in the conversation for Buckner.
That would mark another major shift for a Colts team that has clearly altered course after its 2-5 start. Nelson’s departure was the clearest signal yet that Indianapolis is not approaching this season as a team trying to push for contention right now.
Buckner remains one of the top players on the Colts’ defense and would figure to draw interest if he reaches the trade market. What Indianapolis might receive in return is still unknown, and the exact compensation from Seattle for Nelson also has not been made public.
The Colts have already lived through a different kind of sell-side move before. Last season, they took advantage of the New York Jets’ trade fire sale by landing cornerback Sauce Gardner in a bid to improve their chances of competing. But that plan unraveled after Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles injury, and Indianapolis has not recovered, stumbling to its current 2-5 record.
Their latest loss came on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, and the schedule does not offer much relief. The Colts are set to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, with the roster potentially looking even different by then.
In Other News...
49ers Bye Week Could Clarify A Return Picture Fans Need To See
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There is still some uncertainty in the timing, though, especially for the players fans are watching most closely. Deebo Samuel is part of that recovery conversation, but his hamstring situation may require a little more patience even after the break, while the 49ers are particularly eager to see one of their defensive leaders get through the extra week in good shape. Other injured players remain further away, leaving the team to balance short-term caution with the need to get stronger for the second half. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan Heads Into Bye With A 49ers Problem He Must Fix
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Kyle Shanahan now gets the bye week to sort out a problem that has started to chip away at the Niners edge. Penalties are rarely the flashiest issue on a contender, but they can quickly become one when they alter drives, extend possessions and force a team to play from behind. For a San Francisco group that still has bigger goals in front of it, the coming week offers a needed reset before the season resumes. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Keep Running Into The Same Problem On Offense
The 49ers have spent much of this season trying to piece together an offense that can stay intact long enough to find a rhythm, and Mike Evans has become a central part of that equation. Injuries have already forced San Francisco to navigate stretches without Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, leaving the unit short on the kind of playmaking and stability that usually keeps it on schedule. Even with the bye week offering a reset and a chance to get some bodies back, the bigger concern is whether the group can finally look like a whole offense for more than a brief stretch.
What has made the situation so frustrating is how dependent the 49ers have become on Evans being available and productive. When he is on the field, the offense can look far more balanced and dangerous, but every absence seems to expose the same familiar issues in protection, timing and finishing drives. The coming weeks will tell a lot about whether San Francisco can finally escape that cycle, or whether it is going to keep leaning on a few key names just to keep the attack moving. [Read more 🡒]