Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard was hampered by a nagging ankle injury throughout the 2021 season, and he’s on the mend rehabbing it while the team returns for offseason workouts.
Speaking to reporters for the first time this offseason, Leonard has already undergone two surgeries on the ankle. One of them kept him off the field while the team returned for training camp before the 2021 season.
As for how he feels now, Leonard said it feels better than it did at the end of the season.
“It’s attached, it’s there,” Leonard told the media Wednesday. “It feels a whole lot better than what it did, coming from the end of the season. A lot of time to rest, trying to make it stronger. I feel better coming into this season than I did last year, I can say that.”
Even through that ankle injury, which clearly limited his explosiveness, Leonard had a solid season. He finished his fourth season having earned the third Pro-Bowl and All-Pro nods of his career.
In 16 games, Leonard notched 122 tackles (75 solo), four interceptions, four tackles for loss and a league-high eight forced fumbles.
Leonard is hoping these offseason procedures will be enough to keep him from dealing with this injury again.
“I hope not,” Leonard said. “I think we did enough cleaning it up the past two times. Now, it’s more strengthening up, controlling every movement I possibly can and making sure my body is taking that beating early so whenever I come to training camp, my body is used to cutting.”
The Colts made some big moves on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, including the addition of defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
If Leonard can be healthy with these additions to the defense, the Colts can be lethal on that side of the ball.
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