Colts Star Travels to South America for Injury Treatment

Before last week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, the Indianapolis Colts placed star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve due to a neck injury he suffered in Indy's Week 9 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The announcement came as a bit of a surprise, but now the reason why is revealed.

Buckner traveled to Panama this past week to receive stem cell treatment at one of the world's leading stem cell centers. The lineman went to Instagram to post his thanks to the team of doctors who helped him during treatment.

“Thank you @theauragens Team for always helping me with my recovery,’’ Buckner posted. “The comeback is going to be legendary.’’

#Colts DT DeForest Buckner shared via IG that he recently traveled to Panama for regenerative stem cell treatment, presumably to address the neck injury that sent him to IR.

“The Comeback is going to be Legendary ‼️” Buckner wrote.

The earliest he could return is in Week 15. pic.twitter.com/5egaFj1EnZ
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 15, 2025

Buckner visited the same place last year when he was recovering from a high ankle sprain.

Auragens, located in Panama City, uses stem cell treatments for athletes to support injury recovery and longevity. Fellow Colts star Jonathan Taylor has made the same journey in the past to help his own offseason recovery.

Auragens has plenty of NFL testimonials listed on their website. Some of the well-known names include cornerback Darius Slay, edge rusher Matthew Judon, and tight end Jeremy Shockey.

"All of our treatments are completely Non-Surgical and Non-Pharmaceutical, ensuring that athletes can experience the benefits of our therapy without the need for invasive procedures or medications," Auragen wrote on the "Sports Recovery" tab of their website. "Additionally, our procedures have minimal downtime, allowing athletes to quickly return to their training and competition without significant interruption."

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DeForest Buckne — Nov 2, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) pass blocks at the line of scrimmage against Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Deforest Buckner (99) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

"Minimal downtime" is exactly what Buckner needs if he wants to make a return this season. Buckner will miss the team's next three games, which include matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Buckner will be eligible to return from IR in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. He would then be able to play in Indy's final four games and the postseason.

That said, it's unclear what the timetable is. Buckner is in his 10th year, so one would imagine he wants to ensure it's safe to return to the field so that he doesn't risk any major injuries, especially in an area as vital as the neck.

#Colts DT DeForest Buckner shared that while recovering from an ankle injury last year, he wanted to go to Panama for stem cell treatment — and without hesitation, Jim Irsay offered his private jet to help him get there and take care of it.

"That's the blueprint he's leaving… https://t.co/7MEyPLn0RX pic.twitter.com/QVIj8YqSUq
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 29, 2025

Historically, Buckner rarely misses playing time. He missed five games last season due to his ankle sprain, and he'll miss at least four this year. Before that, Buckner had missed zero games from 2021 to 2023.

In nine starts this season, Buckner has racked up 4 sacks, 42 total tackles, a team high 9 tackles for loss, and 13 QB hits.

He's one of the best defensive linemen in all of football, and the Colts will sorely miss his presence on the interior over this next month.

In his absence, the play of guys like Grover Stewart, Adetomiwa Adebawore, and Neville Gallimore becomes all the more important. If they can imitate a fraction of the presence Buckner has, the Colts will be in safe hands for a few weeks.

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