The Indianapolis Colts released linebacker Shaquille Leonard, per multiple reports Tuesday.
In what is a shocking move coming out of the bye week, Leonard is no longer a member of the Colts after spending six seasons with the team.
#Colts LB Shaq Leonard has been waived, league sources tell me and @DMRussini.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 21, 2023
Leonard penned a thank you message to the city of Indianapolis and the fanbase while wishing the organization “nothing but the best.”
Indy, I thank you 💜 pic.twitter.com/VxMa1VU2IA
— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) November 21, 2023
Even though Leonard is a vested veteran, he will be subject to waivers because the trade deadline has passed. If a team claims Leonard, they will take on $6.1 million for the remainder of the season and then the rest of his contract, which runs through the 2026 season.
If a team were to claim Shaq Leonard off of waivers, it would owe him $6.11M for the remainder of this season.
He's under contract through 2026, due as follows:
2024: ~$16.1M
2025: ~$19M
2026: ~$19.6M— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 21, 2023
Despite seemingly being on a Hall-of-Fame career track early on, Leonard isn’t the same player he used to be. The lengthy nerve/back injury that required multiple surgeries has taken the elite explosiveness out of his game. He simply has not been moving like the same player who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and earned three All-Pro first-team nods.
Leonard’s playing time decreased significantly in 2023 after he missed the majority of the 2022 season. In nine games (all starts), Leonard recorded 65 tackles (34 solo) and just two tackles for loss.
Leonard and the Colts differed on their opinion of his game and playing time so it wouldn’t be a surprise if this was a mutual decision.
With Leonard now out of the picture, E.J. Speed will take over the WILL role full-time next to Zaire Franklin, who has been thriving as the MIKE in Gus Bradley’s defense since the start of the 2022 season.
