The Indianapolis Colts are still without Shaquille Leonard but it was evident on Sunday that Leonard is itching to get back on the field.
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts played their third straight game of the season without All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard. After an offseason back surgery, Leonard missed the majority of the offseason before returning to practice at the end of training camp. Despite practicing the last few weeks, Leonard still hasn’t played in a game and the team explained before the Week 3 game that they felt he wasn’t ready yet.
However, Leonard wasn’t ready to take the field and play at 100% on Sunday but his energy was at 100% as he did his best to orchestrate the crowd as they willed the Colts to a victory. In a tight game with the Kansas City Chiefs, Leonard was on the sideline yelling, jumping, and instructing the crowd to bring the necessary energy so that Indy could pull off an upset.
The Colts made sure to have a camera on Shaq as Indy closed the game out and it was evident how much the game meant to him. Unable to be on the field with his teammates, Leonard was passionately screaming for Indy to finish the game as he reminded everyone that the Colts were counted out.
When it mattered most. pic.twitter.com/ZYzucusLaT
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 26, 2022
Shaquille Leonard brought his energy to the Colts without even playing
While it was great to see Leonard so locked in, the most encouraging part of this video for fans was probably seeing how well Shaquille Leonard was running and jumping around. While celebrating on the sidelines is much different from the physicality and intensity of an NFL football game, this still may be a sign that Leonard’s return is near.
It’s a return to the field that has much anticipation. Shaquille Leonard is one of the best players in the NFL and his impact is irreplaceable. For as emphatic as his energy was on the sideline, it reaches an even higher level when he’s playing, and the Colts feed off that. Along with his energy, Leonard’s play is just as impactful.
He’ll certainly help the Indianapolis defense that has already been playing well ascend to another level. The Colts finally got over the hump and got their first win of the season. Now, the next obstacle is getting Leonard back on the field. Once that’s done, Indy should be rolling.
Colts celebrating their win over the Chiefs is must-see content
Following Sunday’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Indianapolis Colts released a video of the team celebrating in the locker room.