INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have bet heavily on Samson Ebukam all offseason.
Ebukam turned in the best season of his career in 2023, his first season in Indianapolis, then suffered a torn Achilles tendon three days into training camp last summer.
The injury altered the team’s plans considerably, forcing first-round pick Laiatu Latu into a heavier role against the run than initially anticipated and leaving a lot of observers wondering if Indianapolis would keep Ebukam for the final year of a contract that will cost the Colts $10.49 million in cap space this year. Releasing the veteran defensive end could have saved Indianapolis $6.49 million.
But the Colts held firm, convinced Ebukam will be able to make a full recovery from the Achilles injury in one offseason, even though it is often difficult to regain a player’s entire explosive ability in the season back after recovery.
Ebukam, who turns 30 on Friday, believes he will be cleared for full participation by the start of training camp, a year after suffering the injury.
“I think that by the end of OTAs, I’ll be in a great spot,” Ebukam said.
When Ebukam initially suffered the injury, he felt like someone had kicked him in the back of the leg — a common feeling for those who tear an Achilles — but when he looked behind him, all he saw was grass.
Ebukam was in shock for a bit and tried to calm himself down as much as possible.
The Colts decided to avoid putting Ebukam on season-ending injured reserve, leaving open the possibility to bring him back if Indianapolis made the playoffs.
Indianapolis was eliminated with two games left in the regular season.
Even if the Colts had made the postseason, Ebukam wouldn’t have been able to return.
“I definitely tried my hardest with all the rehab we were doing, but it wasn’t a possibility,” Ebukam said.
Ebukam focused on the rehabilitation process, relying on his faith.
“I just kept my faith in front of me, chased God and everything else was fine,” Ebukam said. “It wasn’t all nice and dandy, every day was different, but I’m fine.”
The Colts need Ebukam to return to the lineup this fall as close to full strength as possible.
Indianapolis is hoping Latu takes a big step forward, but the Colts lost Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, and even though they drafted Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau to slide into Odeyingbo’s role, it has been clear that general manager Chris Ballard believes Ebukam will make an impact again, even if it’s not by leading the team with 9.5 sacks, the way he did in 2023.
“I believe he can be an energy (player),” Ballard said last month. “Whether he’s a 10-sack guy again or not, I can’t judge that, but in terms of energy, toughness, what he brings every day? Absolutely, I think he can be that.”
The Achilles tendon remains a potential issue.
Other NFL players who’ve returned from the injury, like Odeyingbo, former safety Julian Blackmon and former Colts left tackle Eric Fisher, have acknowledged that even after a player is cleared to return to the field, it’s hard to get that final burst of explosiveness back.
Indianapolis is betting heavily that Ebukam will find a way to make an impact even if that’s the case, considering that he’s known as a good run defender for a team that hemorrhaged rushing yards early last season.
“It’s a concern,” Ballard said. “Absolutely. But when you know who the kid is, and what he stands for, and the effort he puts into everything, I’m willing to make that bet. We missed his physicality. Undeniably, we missed what Samson brought.”
Ebukam believes he’ll be able to bring it right from the beginning this year.