Colts' DT DeForest Buckner and CB JuJu Brents won't play vs. Broncos

Colts’ defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and cornerback JuJu Brents won’t be playing in the team’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos.

According to George Bremer, rest is the official reason that Buckner won’t be suiting up, while Brents’ absence is precautionary as he deals with a shouler issue, although if this were the regular season, he would be playing.

Both players sat out of Friday’s practice as well. As far as Buckner goes, playing in the preseason isn’t much of a necessity for him.

Without Buckner and Raekwon Davis still on the non-football illness list with high blood pressure, on Friday we saw Taven Bryan lining up next to Grover Stewart. Recently, SI’s Albert Breer would call Bryan a “camp surprise.”

With Brents, out, we will likely see Dallis Flowers lined up in his place opposite of Jaylon Jones. Brents has seemingly cemented himself as one of the boundary starters at cornerback, while Jones appears to have the advantage over Flowers, taking the bulk of the starting snaps during training camp.

Brents has been playing his best football as of late.

“JuJu, the last four days, has really done well for us,” said defensive coordinator Gus Bradley earlier this week.

After Friday’s practice, head coach Shane Steichen said that most of the Colts’ starters would play for a series or two.