What happened: The Indianapolis Colts will use their upcoming three-game stretch against the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Dallas Cowboys to determine whether to trade veteran players ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline, per Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. If Indianapolis decides to deal from its roster, the San Francisco 49ers could make a run at defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who played for San Francisco from 2016 through 2019. Rival front offices have also studied trade scenarios for Colts veterans including guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle Grover Stewart.

Why it matters: Buckner, 32, and Nelson, 30, are both entering the final year of their contracts, limiting Indianapolis' leverage if the club falls out of playoff contention over the next three weeks. Reuniting with Buckner would reinforce the interior pass rush for an 8-1 San Francisco squad, while acquiring an established guard like Nelson would upgrade the offensive line in front of seventh-round pick Connor Colby.

What to watch: Indianapolis will evaluate its playoff viability across upcoming matchups with the Vikings, Jaguars, and 2-4 Cowboys before making final roster decisions ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline.