The tail end of the 2025 season seemed to be filled with cursed injury luck for the Indianapolis Colts. Every week, at least one key contributor seemed to be out, and more often than many Colts fans would have liked, that player was star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Even worse than that, the injury that he was fighting against was one of the most concerning afflictions a football player could get: the dreaded neck injury. Especially for a player who lives in the most physical parts of the trenches, like Buckner, even a minor neck injury could soon escalate into something devastating.
In fact, the injury reportedly had Buckner contemplating retirement at times throughout the season. A neck injury is nothing to scoff at, but luckily for Colts fans, another player who's had even more neck trouble has recently been cleared to play.
Nnamdi Madubuike's recovery should inspire hope for all Colts fans regarding DeForest Buckner
That's right, the perplexingly vague Nnamdi Madubuike saga with the Baltimore Ravens seems to be on an upswing, and per ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the former star looks to be on track to play in the upcoming NFL season.
Madubuike missed the entirety of the 2025 season after suffering a neck injury in Week 2, and the nature of his ailment was even more veiled than Buckner's. At times, it seemed that he might never be able to play again, as what seemed like a minor injury kept him out for longer and longer.
Given the protracted length of time that Madubuike was sidelined last season, it stands to reason that his injury was likely more severe than Buckner's, though no neck injury should be taken lightly. While Buckner was privately reflecting on the possibility of retirement, it seemed like it could end up being an inevitability for Madubuike. Luckily, it seems that's no longer the case.
The Colts are entering a make-or-break year for general manager Chris Ballard, a man who's been heavily criticized as of late. He just shelled out two brand new, big-money deals to Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, and gave up Indy's first-round picks both this year and next for the rights to Sauce Gardner.
The team underperformed after the Gardner trade, in no small part due to Jones' catastrophic injury, but the team was exposed for having roster holes regardless of QB play. Next year is a year that the Colts need to be successful, and to do that, they need the man who has arguably been their best defensive player to not only play but be at his best.
Nothing is assured with an injury as finicky as a neck issue, but Madubuike's optimistic outlook can only inspire hope that Buckner will be able to overcome his own injury and return to being the key contributor Colts fans know he can be.
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