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When meeting with reporters at the 2026 NFL combine, general manager Chris Ballard provided an update on Indianapolis Colts' defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who underwent a procedure on a neck injury.
Buckner originally landed on injured reserve in Week 9 with a neck injury he sustained against Pittsburgh. After missing several weeks, Buckner returned for the Colts' Monday Night game against San Francisco in Week 16, but would reaggravate the injury.
He was then placed on injured reserve and had successful surgery before the Colts' 2025 season was over.
"He's good," Ballard said of Buckner. "I think it was some relief for Buck when he got it done. He's had injuries in his career but really it was the first time that he had one that was pretty serious. And then getting the surgery done, the relief that I think he felt -- one, knowing I feel better. Instantly felt better. And two, I can play football again."
Compared to the defensive tackle position group league-wide, Buckner ranks 24th in pass rush win rate and 14th in PFF's run stop rate metric.
Even with missing most of the second half of the season, Buckner is still second on the Colts' defense in pressures.
The 2026 season is the final year of Buckner's current deal. Ballard expects that Buckner will be good to go for training camp, if not sooner.
"I'm not going to put a timeframe on it," Ballard said. "We're expecting him back for training camp. The way he works and who he is, it wouldn't surprise me if it's sooner. But he'll be back and he'll be ready to go and I think he'll have a good year."
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL combine: What Colts' Chris Ballard said about DeForest Buckner
Continue reading...
Buckner originally landed on injured reserve in Week 9 with a neck injury he sustained against Pittsburgh. After missing several weeks, Buckner returned for the Colts' Monday Night game against San Francisco in Week 16, but would reaggravate the injury.
He was then placed on injured reserve and had successful surgery before the Colts' 2025 season was over.
"He's good," Ballard said of Buckner. "I think it was some relief for Buck when he got it done. He's had injuries in his career but really it was the first time that he had one that was pretty serious. And then getting the surgery done, the relief that I think he felt -- one, knowing I feel better. Instantly felt better. And two, I can play football again."
Compared to the defensive tackle position group league-wide, Buckner ranks 24th in pass rush win rate and 14th in PFF's run stop rate metric.
Even with missing most of the second half of the season, Buckner is still second on the Colts' defense in pressures.
The 2026 season is the final year of Buckner's current deal. Ballard expects that Buckner will be good to go for training camp, if not sooner.
"I'm not going to put a timeframe on it," Ballard said. "We're expecting him back for training camp. The way he works and who he is, it wouldn't surprise me if it's sooner. But he'll be back and he'll be ready to go and I think he'll have a good year."
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL combine: What Colts' Chris Ballard said about DeForest Buckner
Continue reading...
