Colts veteran DT DeForest Buckner hopeful for training camp return
Colts veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is eyeing a training camp return—if all goes to plan.
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 07: DeForest Buckner #99 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on after an NFL preseason football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 07, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images According to longtime Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, he is hopeful about returning from a season-ending neck injury and ensuing surgery for the team’s training camp occurring in mid-to-late July (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder): Colts DT DeForest Buckner who is recovering from a painful neck injury and surgery, says he's on the mend and began running again this week. He believes a return for training camp remains possible.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 21, 2026 The 32-year-old veteran defensive tackle initially suffered the neck injury in Week 9 of last year on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fresh off of injured reserve, he would return 7 weeks later during Week 16 at home against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. However, Buckner didn’t exactly look right on the field and the neck injury still lingered, and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve soon thereafter before getting surgery on his balking neck.
As a consistent interior catalyst for the Colts defense, and arguably (and consistently) the team’s most valuable player up until his injury limited last season, Buckner is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded 47 tackles (30 s0lo), 9 tackles for loss, and 4. 0 sacks during 10 games. Along with veteran run stuffer Grover Stewart, when fully healthy, they form one of the better starting defensive tackle tandems in the league.
The Colts did bolster their depth behind Buckner by acquiring former Green Bay Packers starting defensive tackle Colby Wooden and 4th-year defensive tackle Ade Adebamore also returns. However, getting Buckner back and fully right would be a big boost for Lou Anarumo’s revamped Colts defense.