Colts: Darius Leonard still not committing to status for Sunday
By Adam Weinrib
Indianapolis Colts LB Darius Leonard would like to play Sunday against the Lions, but he’s not sure yet.
The Indianapolis Colts’ defense began the 2020 season setting historic marks, but since those exceptional opening weeks of the campaign, things have slid back a bit.
As soon as LB Darius Leonard returns to resume his regular spectacular steadiness, though, things’ll be looking a lot better.
According to Leonard himself, it appears he’s rounded the corner, and he’d like to return to his rightful position as the “heart and soul” of this defense in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, a potential trap game.
However, the man wasn’t quite willing to commit to playing this all-important game, saying that he’s going to have to listen to the training staff’s protocols.
Leonard says the one parallel he saw on defense in the past two games is a lack of energy in the first half.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) October 29, 2020
"We came out flat," he said.
This is where getting Leonard back would be a huge boost. He is the heart and soul of this defense and won't let that happen. https://t.co/jkYzI0t1o4
Yeah, we know, we know, but … can you just commit now, please? It would be nice, is all.
The Lions are potentially the first team lying ahead of Leonard — and don’t take them for granted — but the November slate gets far bleaker following this opening battle. By the end of the month, the Colts will have faced the Packers, Ravens and Titans twice, all games in which Leonard’s intensity will be necessary on defense.
In addition to Kemoko Turay, the Colts can’t get Leonard back soon enough.
Until the team makes an official designation on the motor’s availability, enjoy his practice footage from Thursday and cross your fingers that he’ll pass every test with flying colors.
Darius Leonard back at it pic.twitter.com/Ksc0vfcR9H
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) October 29, 2020
The bye week came at the perfect time for Frank Reich’s franchise, allowing Leonard, Turay and Michael Pittman Jr. on offense to all return for the home stretch.
By the end of the month, we should know whether the hot-starting Colts are true AFC playoff contenders, or if they’ll wilt once hard-hitting and speedy teams like Baltimore show up in their path.
The addition of Leonard will be enormous, and we’d like him back Sunday, if possible.
