DeForest Buckner Fantasy Stats

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said Tuesday that he has been cleared to participate in practice after missing the team's spring program while recovering from neck surgery, according to James Boyd. Buckner sustained a herniated disc during Indianapolis' Week 9 loss to Pittsburgh and later lost strength in the left side of his upper body. He returned from injured reserve for Week 16 against San Francisco, recorded five tackles, and aggravated the injury before undergoing surgery on New Year's Eve. The 32-year-old finished the 2025 season with 47 tackles and four sacks across 10 starts. Buckner was only cleared to resume running in April, making his return to practice an important step in a lengthy rehabilitation. He said the Colts plan to ramp up his workload cautiously as training camp progresses, with the goal of being ready for the season opener against Baltimore. Buckner's clearance is encouraging, but his practice workload and ability to progress without another setback will remain important to monitor.

The Indianapolis Colts are targeting training camp for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner's (neck) return to the field after he had surgery on his neck in 2025, according to JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com. "He's in a really good spot," general manager Chris Ballard said. Buckner originally injured his neck in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he returned for just one game in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. As long as the 32-year-old veteran doesn't have any setbacks with his neck in training camp this summer, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. Buckner is a former seventh overall pick in 2016 out of Oregon, and he's made three Pro Bowl teams while being named a first-team All-Pro once, so if he's fully healthy, he'll be a big part of Indy's defensive line. He had only four sacks in 10 games last year, but Buckner has racked up 71.5 sacks over 10 NFL seasons with the Giants and Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts have activated defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) from Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Buckner will play in tonight's game against his former team after missing an extended period of time due to a neck injury. The 31-year-old captain will not only solidify the Colts' defensive front but also provide a much-needed veteran presence in the locker room after the team lost both Daniel Jones and Sauce Gardner in recent weeks. Before exiting Week 9 early, Buckner had tallied 42 tackles and four sacks this season. As a result of Buckner being activated, the Colts have waived quarterback Brett Rypien.

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) will not be activated from Injured Reserve to play this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, according to head coach Shane Steichen. Buckner did have his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday, though, and he was limited on Wednesday and Thursday. If he can continue to improve going into next week, Buckner could make his return on Monday Night Football in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. The struggling Colts will be without Buckner, All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), and cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. (concussion) this Sunday for a tough road matchup against the Seahawks. Ward was placed on Injured Reserve this week after suffering his third concussion of the year. Buckner has recorded 42 total tackles and four sacks over 424 defensive snaps this season.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Friday that defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) has been in the building and is "very" optimistic that he can return this year, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Buckner has been on IR due to a neck injury since early November, and he won't be eligible to return to the Colts defense until Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. The 31-year-old's return will be a huge boost for Indy's interior defensive line later this season, though, as the three-time Pro Bowler had 42 tackles (26 solo), four sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 13 QB hits in nine starts in his sixth season with the Colts before injuring his neck. Buckner has mostly been durable in his 10 NFL seasons, but he also missed five games in 2024 with an ankle injury. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Buckner has remained productive rushing the passer when he's been healthy.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Friday that they placed defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) on Injured Reserve. Buckner will now be forced to miss at least the next four games, starting with this Sunday's game in Berlin, Germany, against the Atlanta Falcons. The 31-year-old three-time Pro Bowler will be eligible to return on Dec. 14 against the Seattle Seahawks. It's a notable loss for the interior of the Colts' defensive line for the foreseeable future. In nine games this year, Buckner had four sacks, 42 tackles (26 solo), nine tackles for loss, and 13 QB hits for Indy. With the veteran pass-rusher out for at least four games, the Colts will need the likes of Grover Stewart, Neville Gallimore, and Adetomiwa Adebawore, among others, to step up.

Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (foot) put in a full practice on Thursday after picking up a DNP for the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Safety Julian Blackmon (shoulder) has been practicing in full this week, while linebacker E.J. Speed (knee) has put in two limited practices. Unless he has a setback on Friday, Buckner should be good to play on Sunday against the New York Jets while getting after quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 30-year-old veteran missed Weeks 3-7 while on Injured Reserve but has been active the last three weeks, picking up nine solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and six QB hits. The Colts defense/special teams unit is a fade in fantasy this week against the Jets, but Buckner is certainly in play as a starting defensive lineman in IDP formats.

Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (ankle) was activated off the injured reserve and will return to action on Sunday. In a corresponding move the Colts waived running back Evan Hull. Buckner has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the second week of the season. In the season opener, Buckner had a productive afternoon as he tallied six tackles (five solo) with 1.5 sacks. Last season, the lineman posted a career-high 81 tackles with seven pass deflections and eight sacks. Buckner should expected to return to his typical starting role on Sunday afternoon facing the Houston Texans.

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. The veteran defender was designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday and remains eligible to practice without being activated until November 13. Of course, the Colts could opt to activate him prior to that deadline, perhaps as early as this week versus the Houston Texans. If activated, he would give the Colts' defense a major boost ahead of their key divisional battle.

Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (ankle) has been designated to return to practice ahead of the Week 8 game against the Houston Texans. The former first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers and has been on the Injured Reserve list ever since. Whenever Buckner returns to the Colts' lineup, it will be a much-needed addition for a team allowing the second-most rushing yards per game (159.9) this season. The three-time Pro Bowler collected at least seven sacks in each of his first four seasons with the Colts, and he posted 26 run stuffs between 2022 and 2023.