DeForest Buckner acknowledges he will need to adapt his playing style following a serious back injury. The Colts defensive tackle is determined to return strong in 2026, the final year of his contract.
Key points
DeForest Buckner suffered a herniated disc in his neck.
He missed seven of the last eight games last season.
Buckner plans to adapt his playing style after the injury.
He is determined to return for the 2026 season.
Buckner is in the final year of a $46 million contract.
DeForest BucknerColts
Colts DeForest Buckner after back injury: 'Going to have to change some things'
INDIANAPOLIS ā DeForest Buckner admitted heāll be a different football player than the veteran All-Pro defensive tackle was even a year ago. The 32-year-old suffered the most debilitating injury of his NFL career, one that had him contemplating the very real possibility that his playing days may be over.
That heās back, though, should be proof enough to his teammates and Colts fans alike that Buckner will give it his all in 2026, which marks the final year of the two-year, $46 million deal he signed two years ago.
āYou guys know me. Iām gonna do whatever it takes to help my team and be out there with my guys,ā Buckner told reporters Tuesday, his first media availability since undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in his neck that led to a pinched nerve and sidelined him for seven of Indianapolisā final eight games last season.
Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
Defensive end Laiatu Latu of UCLA was selected 15th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Q&A
What injury did DeForest Buckner suffer?
DeForest Buckner suffered a herniated disc in his neck that caused a pinched nerve.
How many games did Buckner miss due to his injury?
Buckner missed seven of the final eight games of the previous season due to his injury.
What changes does Buckner plan to make in his playing style?
Buckner indicated that he will have to change some aspects of his playing style due to the injury.
What is the status of Buckner's contract with the Colts?
Buckner is in the final year of a two-year, $46 million contract with the Colts.
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Quarterback Anthony Richardson of Florida was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Defensive end Kwity Paye of Michigan was selected 21st overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of Miami was selected 29th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.
Defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State was selected 24th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.
Offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo of Boston College was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
Running back Donald Brown of Connecticut was selected 27th overall in the 2009 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio State was selected 32nd overall in the 2007 NFL draft.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne of Miami was selected 30th overall in the 2001 NFL draft.
Quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL draft.
Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn of California was selected 19th overall in the 1997 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison of Syracuse was selected 19th overall in the 1996 NFL draft.
Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson of Florida was selected 15th overall in the 1995 NFL draft.
Linebacker Trev Alberts of Nebraska was selected fifth overall in the 1994 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Sean Dawkins of California was selected 16th overall in the 1993 NFL draft.
Linebacker Quentin Coryatt of Texas A&M was selected second overall in the 1992 NFL draft.
Linebacker Cornelius Bennett of Alabama was selected second overall in the 1987 NFL draft.
Cornerback back Leonard Coleman of Vanderbilt was selected eighth overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
Guard Ron Solt (66) of Maryland was selected 19th overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
1 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
1 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
2 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Defensive end Laiatu Latu of UCLA was selected 15th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
3 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Quarterback Anthony Richardson of Florida was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
4 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Defensive end Kwity Paye of Michigan was selected 21st overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
5 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of Miami was selected 29th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.
6 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State was selected 24th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.
7 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo of Boston College was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
8 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Running back Donald Brown of Connecticut was selected 27th overall in the 2009 NFL draft.
9 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio State was selected 32nd overall in the 2007 NFL draft.
10 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL draft.
11 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne of Miami was selected 30th overall in the 2001 NFL draft.
12 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL draft.
13 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn of California was selected 19th overall in the 1997 NFL draft.
14 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison of Syracuse was selected 19th overall in the 1996 NFL draft.
15 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson of Florida was selected 15th overall in the 1995 NFL draft.
16 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Linebacker Trev Alberts of Nebraska was selected fifth overall in the 1994 NFL draft.
17 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Wide receiver Sean Dawkins of California was selected 16th overall in the 1993 NFL draft.
18 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Linebacker Quentin Coryatt of Texas A&M was selected second overall in the 1992 NFL draft.
19 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Linebacker Cornelius Bennett of Alabama was selected second overall in the 1987 NFL draft.
20 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Cornerback back Leonard Coleman of Vanderbilt was selected eighth overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
21 / 21
The Colts have no 2026 first-round picks. Here's who Indianapolis drafted before
Guard Ron Solt (66) of Maryland was selected 19th overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
The campaign, Bucknerās 10th in the NFL, marked his fewest games played (10) and the second-consecutive season heās played 12 or fewer. Over the first eight years of his career, Buckner never appeared in fewer than 15 contests and had played in all 17 for three years running entering 2024. The injury in question cropped up during the Coltsā Week 9 road loss in Pittsburgh, and days later, he could hardly do a pushup, the strength on the left side of his body had so deteriorated.
The Colts captain underwent stem cell treatment in Panama during the teamās bye week, and he returned for a Week 16 contest against the 49ers before deciding the pain and discomfort was too much to labor through without more significant treatment.
āYouāve got to make sure youāre not risking things that could really hurt you in the long term. Last year, it just got to the point where the only option was surgery, and Iām really glad I did (it),ā he said. āObviously, when things like that happen, I found myself in some deep, dark thoughts on what I was going to do, but just with talking to the people closest to me through all those emotions, now Iām in a good space where I wanna be out there this year, and Iām going to do whatever it takes to be out there by Week 1.ā
Buckner said Tuesday he was unable to even lift his two young sons and infant daughter for weeks following the procedure; heās only just begun running this week.
ā(Rehab) really has just been about a lot of patience. In the first couple weeks, you canāt really do much,ā he said. āThe doc said I couldnāt pick up anything more than 10 pounds, and that was for a little while, but I finally got some clearance to do some lifting and get some strength back.
āIām feeling good right now with where I am in the rehab process, and everythingās trending toward training camp.ā
When that time comes though, he said, this injury will have left some lasting effects on the 2020 1st-team All-Pro defensive tackle.
āThe way things are going, technique-wise,ā he said, āIām going to have to change some things here and there.ā
