Nik Cox hoping to begin pre-season after concussion battle as injury saga set to linger into 2026
Forgotten Bomber Nik Cox is eyeing off a return date after missing 2025 with concussion, but the injury crisis which crippled the club will linger into 2026. See who’s still out of action.
Essendon is expecting utility Nik Cox to begin official pre-season with his teammates next month as he continues his comeback from a concussion battle.
Cox, 23, did not play an AFL game in 2025 with his year curtailed from pre-season due to concussion symptoms.
In July, Essendon announced Cox had fronted the league’s concussion panel and was given the green light to resume his career in 2026, if he stepped through hoops on a specifically tailored return-to-play plan.
The 53-game Bomber has been completing his off-season fitness program and has so far cleared every hurdle required to be fit for the start of pre-season on November 10.
He will be closely monitored as he builds into pre-season to ensure he remains symptom free.
Cox was one of about 15 Bombers in at the club on Monday as the injury-hit Essendon playing group continued to ramp up to next year.
Having entered the final round of the season with 16 names on the injury list, Essendon is confident it will have a strong contingent on the track for day one of pre-season proper.
Midfielder Nic Martin was expected to miss most of the first half of the season after rupturing his ACL in July but the Bombers are confident he is tracking well to return earlier than planned.
Ruck Nick Bryan, forward Tom Edwards and defender Lewis Hayes were others to go down with serious knee injuries in 2025.
The Bombers will also start pre-season with a new coach on Brad Scott’s panel after Dean Solomon made the surprise call to step off the board and take charge of the Dons defence, filling a spot left vacant after Daniel Giansiracusa moved to Hawthorn.
Cox, a 200cm swingman capable of playing across all lines, has had to work through back, foot and ankle injuries throughout his career, outside of the concussion issues.
He said in July that he was “pleased” to eye a return to footy.
“This time away from the game will be used to focus fully on my health, recovery and building the strongest possible foundation heading into pre-season,” Cox said then.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my club, teammates, medical staff and everyone who has supported me through what’s been a challenging and uncertain period.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself over the past few months and I’m more motivated than ever to get back to doing what I love.”
Originally published as Nik Cox hoping to begin pre-season after concussion battle as injury saga set to linger into 2026
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