Denver Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe is happy to be back on the field as he is coming off a successful neck surgery. Wolfe missed the first two games in 2016 and was not able to finish the last five games in 2017 due to neck pain. According to 9news, the neck pain was so severe that Wolfe went into season-ending surgery.

The surgery that he went under for was a Foraminotomy procedure that completely alleviated the nerve pain that had forced Wolfe to miss so many games. With the successful surgery, Wolfe praised the way he can move his neck in an interview with 9News

“I can turn my head like an owl,’’ Wolfe said Wednesday in an interview with 9NEWS. “It’s crazy. I can look all the way behind me. It’s insane.’’

The pain was so bad at one point Wolfe was unable to do a pushup during the season. With that amount of pain building in his body, it took a lot for him to compete. He's glad he went into the surgery right.

“I can honestly sit here and tell you that as far as my neck goes – I have to build my strength back up, but I got Loren to help me so I’m not worried about that – but it’s fixed,’’ Wolfe said. “I feel so much better. I swear I couldn’t do a pushup during the season.’’

For the Broncos, they are going to have their defensive end ready to go as Wolfe is currently working out with performance coach Loren Landow. According to the soon to be Broncos condition and strength coach, the seventh-year player is now lifting 120-pound dumbbells and gearing up for the upcoming season.