Colts DT DeForest Buckner cleared for practice after neck surgery
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was cleared to practice Wednesday after undergoing neck surgery and missing the entire 2025 offseason. Buckner suffered the injury in November and had been restricted to lifting no more than 10 pounds during early recovery.
DeForest Buckner, the Indianapolis Colts' three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, was cleared to practice Wednesday after undergoing neck surgery and missing the entire 2025 offseason, according to ESPN.
Buckner suffered a neck injury in November that required surgery. He was sidelined since November and missed the entirety of the team's offseason workouts. According to Buckner's account, the injury recovery was initially very restrictive: doctors advised him not to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds during his rehabilitation period.
Buckner passed medical clearance Monday and was cleared to practice starting Wednesday. He will go through a ramp-up period with the goal of being ready for opening day, per ESPN.
"I'm excited to get back on the field. Everybody has a plan on me for getting back on the field and I'm just excited to get back out there with the guys," Buckner said, according to ESPN. He described the recovery as frustrating but said, "I just kept my faith and kept working and trusting the doctors and my trainers. There was a lot of teamwork involved with the whole operation and recovery."
Buckner passed medical clearance Monday and was cleared to begin practice Wednesday, setting him on a ramp-up schedule with the goal of being ready for opening day.
Buckner's return to practice marks a critical milestone in his recovery, but the ramp-up timeline before full availability remains in place. Watch the pace of that progression over the coming weeks and whether any setback emerges during his return to full participation.
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