Since his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, Shaquille Leonard managed to attain the trust of the team’s front office being the 2018 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He maintained excellent play and strong relationships with his teammates, which led to their election of him as team captain in each of the previous four seasons.
Unfortunately, Leonards’s back-to-back injury issues during the 2022 season turned the Colts’ venture into an absolute disaster. After dealing with all those issues for the time being, the defensive lineman returned to training camp and detailed his healing process.
Shaquille Leonard talks about his path to full fitness
The 28-year-old missed the start of the Colts’ off-season, OTAs, and minicamp after a season marred by injuries. Concern over his name being added to the PUP list grew at one point, but he nevertheless mounted a great comeback by enrolling in the Colts’ training camp.
Shaquille discussed his excitement and happiness about being able to play again in an interview with NFL Network on Inside Training Camp Live on Sunday.
“It was very emotional just to come out here and just to have full contact and just get back in the element of playing football. It’s been a long journey, and I’m just happy and excited to be able to come out here and play for this team.”
Colts OLB Shaquille Leonard on injury-riddled 2022: Didn't know if "I’d ever be back"https://t.co/9mdhYhitqo pic.twitter.com/LCad89y7oA
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 6, 2023
Although his road to rehabilitation was difficult and drawn out, the footballer claimed to have never given up on himself. He admitted that practically every morning during this time he had experienced bodily problems, which significantly hampered his ability to move around on a daily basis. However, he accepted the challenge and tried to improve a little bit every day, which eventually led to his wonderful recovery today,
“Not being able to do a calf raise, just feeling pain every morning when you wake up, can’t bend, can’t lift, can’t twist, so you have them thoughts. But you just have to make sure you continue to fight through all the bad things that you’re going through, and truly just focus on the wins, the small wins, the small gains every day, and that’s what’s getting me through it.”
Which type of injury did Shaquille Leonard sustain last season?
Leonard had to have two surgeries in five months last season to address lingering nerve-related back problems. He had been experiencing pain in his calf and ankle for a few years, which forced him to undergo surgery in June and put him out of action for the first three weeks of the season.
He also rediscovered the problems for which he had his second surgery in November, and the Colts added him to their injured reserve list as a result. Three-time All-Pro selection responded in October that he found it difficult to deal with his ongoing health difficulties,
“It’s been challenging. My patience has been challenged a lot.”
In his most recent interview with NFL Network, he also mentioned how initially he did not have high hopes for recovery due to the daily escalation of health problems. He believed at the moment that he would soon have to put his NFL career to rest,
“It’s been hard, very emotional, a lot of stress, going through a lot of pain and unknown, and just a lot of mixed emotions, not knowing if I’d ever be back if I would ever run the same.”
Although the team has not yet disclosed the linebacker’s specific timeline to return to the field, the news of his recovery has emerged as a great relief for many.
