INDIANAPOLIS — Defensive finish Samson Ebukam, the Indianapolis Colts’ returning sack chief, has sustained a torn Achilles tendon and is predicted to overlook this season, a group supply confirmed to ESPN.
Ebukam’s damage occurred throughout a full-squad interval of Sunday’s follow and offers an enormous blow to the Colts’ loaded line of defense.
Ebukam had a team-high 9.5 sacks in 2023, simply a profession excessive for the veteran, who was coming into his eighth season. Ebukam additionally registered a team-high three pressured fumbles and trailed solely three-time Professional Bowl choice DeForest Buckner with 17 quarterback hits.
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NFL Community first reported the information of Ebukam’s damage.
The Colts have been touting their deep line of defense all offseason, projecting it to be one of many strengths of their veteran group. It nonetheless stays comparatively deep even after the lack of Ebukam, however his beneficial manufacturing will should be changed.
It’s anticipated that the damage may have a big influence on rookie Laiatu Latu, the fifteenth general choose and first defensive participant chosen on this yr’s draft. The previous UCLA standout has been working primarily with the second defensive unit throughout the first few coaching camp practices.
The damage means extra snaps can even be required of veterans Dayo Odeyingbo and Kwity Paye, a pair who mixed for 16.5 sacks in 2023.
