Indianapolis Colts star linebacker Darius Leonard may have missed the entirety of the spring workouts, but the second-year pro insists he will return Thursday when training camp officially begins.
The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year battled an ankle injury throughout the majority of his rookie season—though you’d never know it. It required offseason surgery that forced him to miss the spring.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Leonard was confident he’ll be ready to go when the team hits the field Thursday afternoon.
Leonard was a bright spot on a defense that made some major strides during the second half of the regular season. His league-leading 163 tackles (111 solo) helped him earn a First-Team All-Pro selection, despite being snubbed a Pro Bowl nod.
The Colts defense underwent even more changes this offseason as general manager Chris Ballard emphasized adding depth and talent to that side of the ball. It included adding veteran pass rusher Justin Houston in free agency and two primary linebackers in draft picks Bobby Okereke and E.J. Speed.
Leonard has made his goals known for 2019. Though he came away with some hardware from his rookie campaign, he’s ready to make a jump into the Defensive Player of the Year and even MVP conversations.
The Colts defense has seen the emergence of several building blocks over the past few seasons, but none have had an impact like Leonard.
He’s set to make his return to the field Thursday at Grand Park in Westfield.
