Leonard set to play vs. Commanders

Colts LB Shaquille Leonard will play Sunday against the Commanders, though he's not yet going full time. "He’s ahead of schedule, but not quite there yet so he will be on a pitch count," HC Frank Reich told the Indianapolis Star. "We feel he is the best defensive player in the league. Our goal is to get him out there for 100 percent of the snaps as soon as we can, but we’re just not quite there yet." Leonard is coming off surgery for a broken nose, as well as a concussion. That followed a slow start to the year coming off June back surgery. It's tough to know just how many snaps Leonard will play, but we've boosted Zaire Franklin to full playing time and moved him way up the Week 8 IDP rankings. He played 100% in the 1 game that has included Leonard so far this year (Week 4).

Colts LB Shaquille Leonard had back surgery Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season. The operation was reportedly successful, so he should have time to get ready for 2023. In the meantime, Zaire Franklin and Bobby Okereke should be locked in as Indy's full-time LBs the rest of this season.

Colts LB Shaquille Leonard will not only miss this week's game, but also at least the 3 after that. The team has placed him on IR following a setback with his troublesome back. Leonard had surgery in June, then didn't appear in a game until Week 4. A concussion and facial injury then sidelined him until Week 8. Leonard has yet to exceed 54% playing time in his 3 appearances. Indianapolis has a Week 14 bye, so Leonard will now be out until at least Week 15. And even then, he'll be a poor bet to return at full playing time. He's droppable in nearly all redraft formats.

The Colts have ruled LB Shaquille Leonard (back, ankle) out for Sunday's game against the Raiders. That should return LB Bobby Okereke to full playing time. We've moved him up the Week 10 IDP rankings.

The Colts added LB Shaquille Leonard to the injury report Thursday after he missed practice with back and ankle issues. It might have been a rest/maintenance day for the veteran, but it's the 1st practice he has missed since Week 6. So it's clearly not a good thing. We'll see what Friday holds for him.

Colts LB Shaquille Leonard practiced in full Wednesday and was listed only for the back issue, which was the June surgery whose recovery kept him out to open the season. It's good news that the team isn't listing his broken nose that required more recent surgery. Leonard's inactivity in the wake of that kept HC Frank Reich from playing him in last week's loss at Tennessee, despite full practices leading up to the weekend. Leonard seems to be on track to return for this Sunday's game against Washington. That would likely take playing time away from IDP revelation Zaire Franklin. We'll watch for word on whether Leonard will immediately assume a full-time role.