Tag: Darius Leonard

Feb 5, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard (53) reacts during AFC practice at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Colts place All-Pro LB Darius Leonard on PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts placed star linebacker Darius Leonard on the active/physically unable to perform list Sunday as a result of his back surgery last month.

Leonard, who will turn 27 on Wednesday, is coming off his third All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons in 2021. He recorded 122 tackles, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles in 16 starts. He has earned All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors in each of his four seasons with the Colts.

Leonard has 538 tackles, 17 forced fumbles, 15 sacks and 11 interceptions in 58 career starts since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by Indianapolis.

Leonard signed a five-year extension worth $99.25 million last August.

The Colts also put defensive end Tyquan Lewis (knee), safety Rodney McLeod (undisclosed) and wide receiver Michael Strachan (undisclosed) on the PUP list. Rookie defensive tackle Eric Johnson (undisclosed) was placed on the non-football injury list.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) leaves the field after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. The Colts lost 11-26. The Indianapolis Colts Versus Jacksonville Jaguars On Sunday Jan 9 2022 Tiaa Bank Field In Jacksonville Fla

Colts All-Pro Darius Leonard undergoes back surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard underwent back surgery Tuesday, a procedure that will sideline the three-time All-Pro into training camp.

Colts head coach Frank Reich told reporters that the expectation is that Leonard will be ready for the regular season, which begins for the Colts on Sept. 11 against the Houston Texans.

Reich said the injury has progressed during the offseason, keeping Leonard out of practice.

Leonard, 26, is coming off his third All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2021. He recorded 122 tackles, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles in 16 starts. He has earned All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors in each of his first four seasons with the Colts.

Leonard has 538 tackles, 17 forced fumbles, 15 sacks and 11 interceptions in 58 career starts since being selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by Indy.

Leonard signed a five-year extension worth $99.25 million last August.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) celebrates after making an interception Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, during a game against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts’ Darius Leonard, two others activated from COVID list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, wide receiver Zach Pascal and safety Khari Willis were activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday.

Quarterback Carson Wentz and five other active roster players remain on the COVID-19 list for the Colts (9-6), who will host the Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) on Sunday.

Leonard, 26, was placed on the list before Indianapolis’ 22-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals last Saturday.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro, Leonard has 107 tackles, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions in 14 games this season.

Leonard has 523 tackles, 15 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries in 56 career games with the Colts.

Pascal, 27, has 36 catches for 369 yards with three touchdowns in 14 games this season.

Willis, 25, has 54 tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks in nine games (eight starts) this season.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) during the day's Colts camp practice at Grand Park in Westfield on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Colts Camp

Colts’ Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson miss practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts were missing All-Pros from both sides of the ball Wednesday as linebacker Darius Leonard and Quenton Nelson sat out with injuries.

Leonard continues to battle an ankle injury and Nelson was out with foot and back injuries. Both players played every down in the Colts’ Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

A two-time All-Pro, Leonard had five tackles and a forced fumble vs. Seattle. Nelson, a three-time All-Pro, played all 76 snaps on offense.

Starting right tackle Braden Smith also missed practice with a foot injury. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes, inactive for Week 1, missed with a calf injury.

Offensive tackle Eric Fisher was a limited participant Wednesday as he continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles. Fisher was limited last week, too, and is hoping to make his Colts debut against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

“(I’m) feeling real good. I’ve been doing everything I can in my power to be available for this team,” Fisher said. “My role has progressed and progressed. I’ll leave my status and my role up to the coaches and training staff. I’m doing my part to make sure I’m rehabbing as hard as I can, practicing as hard as I can and just being ready when my number’s called.”

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) wears a straw cowboy hat during training camp Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. Indianapolis Colts Training Camp At Grand Park In Westfield Indiana Saturday August 7 2021

Report: Colts signing ILB Darius Leonard to $99.25M extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts signed All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard to a five-year extension worth $99.25 million, NFL Network reported on Sunday.

The deal reportedly includes $52.5 million in guaranteed money and will pay Leonard $20 million annually for the first three seasons.

Leonard, 26, becomes the highest-paid inside linebacker in the league in contract value and average annual salary, according to Spotrac. He passes Fred Warner, who set new highs in both categories when he signed a five-year, $95.225 extension with San Francisco in July.

Before the Warner and Leonard deals, New York Jets ILB C.J. Mosley was No. 1 with $85 million in total value and Seattle’s Bobby Wagner led in AAV with $18 million.

The Colts confirmed the extension but did not provide any details.

Leonard, a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, has 416 tackles, 22 passes defensed, 15 sacks, nine forced fumbles and seven interceptions through his first three seasons.

The Colts selected Leonard with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.

–Field Level Media