Colts DT DeForest Buckner Returns to Practice After Neck Surgery

Buckner is back on the field

DeForest Buckner returned to Colts practice Wednesday, back on the field after a neck injury sidelined him last season and required surgery. For a defensive front that leans on its interior anchor, getting the veteran tackle moving again this early in camp is a meaningful step.

The survivor-pick read on the Colts

A healthy Buckner strengthens the run defense and interior pass rush, which is exactly the kind of stabilizer that makes a defense harder to run on and a team easier to trust in a lopsided matchup. That said, a return to practice is not the same as a confirmed, full-go season — neck surgeries carry more caution than most injuries, so treat this as encouraging rather than decisive.

For now, file the Colts as a team worth monitoring rather than locking in. Wait to see how Buckner holds up through camp, then weigh Indianapolis against the actual matchup and spread when your week comes. If you're still building your bracket, you can start a free survivor pool and keep tracking updates like this through the season. For more weekly reads, our survivor analysis breaks down the safest options as the picture clears.