The Indianapolis Colts could be quite good in 2026 if the injury issues that happened in 2025 don't recur. The team has talent, and some players are among the best at their respective positions in the NFL. That includes defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.
Buckner, though, might have a more dire injury than a torn Achilles tendon like quarterback Daniel Jones had in 2025. The defensive lineman played only one game after Week 9 with a neck issue, specifically a herniated disc that caused him to lose all of the feeling on his left side. That not only affects his football career, but, obviously, his entire life.
The star player is signed through this coming season after signing an extension after the 2024 season that paid him as much as $46 million over the next two years. What Buckner has to weigh is whether he has already earned enough in his career to walk away if he wanted to.
DeForest Buckner could be entering his final year with the Indianapolis Colts
He hasn't been able to practice yet in organized team activities after having surgery to hopefully correct the neck problem, and he might not be ready for Week 1 either.
According to James Boyd of The Athletic (subscription required), Buckner was "noncommittal" when asked about his timeline to return to football. Buckner added, "The goal is Week 1." Obviously, no guarantee exists that that will be the case.
This ultimately becomes a human concern, of course. Indianapolis Colts fans hope that DeForest Buckner feels well enough to perform at his usual exceedingly high level. He is able to stop the run and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks with regularity. He makes the entire defense better, not just his own position group.
At the same time, no one wants the defensive lineman to reinjure his neck, forcing him to have lifelong problems because of his chosen profession earlier in his life. He is still a relatively young man and deserves the chance to live a long, happy, and healthy life after he stops playing the sport.
If and when Buckner returns to the Colts, everyone hopes he does well. Any hint of another injury to his neck could cause him to pause, though. That could even happen before the season starts. One likely wouldn't have blamed him if he hadn't returned after last season's neck injury.
Thinking positively, Buckner could return and play well. This might be his last season in Indianapolis, no matter what happens with his neck, as he is 32 years old and in the last year of his contract. If it is his final one, let's hope for a productive and healthy one.
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