DeForest Buckner Couldn't Even Pick Up His Kids, And Week 1 Is No Sure Thing

Okay, so this isn't about our Hawks, but when you hear what DeForest Buckner has been going through, you gotta feel for the guy. This dude, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, the absolute heart of that Colts defense, nearly had his entire career ripped away. We're talking about a neck injury so bad he was actually asking himself if he even wanted to keep playing football. Can you even imagine?

"Deep, Dark Thoughts" After The Diagnosis

Seriously, Buckner hit rock bottom when doctors told him surgery was the only way to fix his neck. He was in "deep, dark thoughts about what am I going to do?" He had a herniated disc in his neck, and it was pressing against a nerve so hard that his whole left side was basically useless. No feeling, no strength, nothing. He tried everything else first, you know, rest, stem cell therapy at some clinic he'd used before in Panama, but none of it worked. The surgery decision wasn't easy either, he said it took "talking with the people closest to me, just talking through all those emotions" to even get comfortable with it. When you hear about a player facing down losing the game he's given his life to, it just hits different. You think about our guys, and you hope they never have to face something like that.

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The Road Back: From Helpless to Hopeful

Now, he's a few months into rehab, and thankfully, he's seeing some progress. But let's be real, he's still a long way from lining up on Sundays. Buckner, who's 32, said the whole recovery has required "a lot of patience." He actually recalled how, right after surgery, he couldn't even do basic stuff. "The first couple of weeks, you can't really do much," he said. He couldn't even pick up his own kids for a while, couldn't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. That's just brutal. He finally got back to running in April and things are moving forward, but his return for training camp in late July is still totally up in the air. The Colts and Buckner are shooting for him to be ready for the September 13 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. That's the goal, but everyone knows it's not a sure thing. Coach Shane Steichen put it bluntly, saying they'll "be smart with the situation, monitor him through training camp." When Buckner does come back, he'll be joining a defense that's already looking way different from last season, with vets like Zaire Franklin, Kenny Moore II, and Kwity Paye all gone.

It's a huge challenge for Buckner, and for the Colts who are counting on him to anchor their defense after a rough 2025. Will he be ready for Week 1? That's the million-dollar question, and frankly, the entire league is watching. Here's hoping he makes it back to full strength.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.