Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor is expected to play against the Houston Texans on Sunday after missing three games due to an ankle injury.
Taylor participated fully in practice on Friday and was not listed with any injury.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) did not practice on Friday and is considered questionable. He has been out for the last five games.
Colts coach Shane Steichen is hopeful that both players will be ready to play against the Texans.
“Getting those two guys back, if they’re ready to roll, it’ll be huge,” Steichen said. “They’re two really talented players that help us tremendously on both sides of the football. So, it’ll be good to see where that goes.”
Even though Taylor hasn’t played this month, he still leads the Colts in carries (72), rushing yards (349), and rushing touchdowns (four). He had two games with over 100 rushing yards in four games before his injury.
Taylor, 25, has rushed for 4,931 yards and scored 44 touchdowns in 57 games (52 starts) over five seasons in the NFL. He led the league with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021, earning a Pro Bowl selection and being named a first-team All-Pro.
Buckner, 30, had only missed two games in nine NFL seasons before his current stretch of five games out.
Buckner is a three-time Pro Bowl player and was a first-team All-Pro in 2020, his first year with the Colts. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2019 during his last season with the San Francisco 49ers.
In his career, Buckner has recorded 62.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles, and 551 tackles in 131 games (126 starts). This season, he has 1.5 sacks in two games, with one start.
Defensive end Genard Avery (foot) and linebacker Jaylon Carlies (fibula, shoulder) have been ruled out for the Colts.
