Shaquille Leonard
#1 LB,
Free Agent
ACTUAL 2022
22 FPTS
RANK: 655
2023 SEASON
- FPTS
RANK: -
AGE
27 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'2'' / 230 lbs
COLLEGE
South Carolina State
| SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK |
| 2022 | 3 | 22 | 655th |
Wants new team, open to retirement
Published: 2024-06-23
Leonard said he wishes to sign with a new team and play during the 2024 NFL season, but that he'd be at peace with calling it a career if no opportunity presents itself, Kyle Smeldy of the Indianapolis Star reports.
Leonard, a three-time All-Pro, posted 88 tackles in 14 regular-season games split between the Colts and Eagles in 2023, his comeback after a 2022 campaign plagued by injuries. Though he's remained a free agent throughout league OTAs and mandatory minicamps, Leonard said he's staying in shape and waiting for an opportunity to sign, but left open the possibility of retirement. "If it happens, it happens," Leonard said. "If it don't, it don't. I think throughout my career I've had a great career, even if I do step away from it."
Fantasy Points by Week 2022
Weekly Stats 2022
| 8 WAS | Dome undefined° | undefined | NaNth | -3.0 | 40.5 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 75% | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 @NE | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 5.0 | 39.5 | 34 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
Performance Splits: 2020 to 2022
| Home | Retractable Dome | 18 | 17 | undefined | NaNth | 1,067 | 42 | 103 | 7 | 77% | 13 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | Outdoor | 11 | 10 | undefined | NaNth | 600 | 45 | 36 | 2 | 80% | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
| Away | Dome | 2 | 2 | undefined | NaNth | 114 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
| Away | Retractable Dome | 2 | 2 | undefined | NaNth | 109 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
Career Stats by Season: 2018 to 2022
| 2018 | 23 | IND | 15 | 15 | 295 | 1st | 956 | 52 | 93 | 12 | 81% | 8 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 24 | IND | 13 | 13 | 201 | 19th | 827 | 50 | 49 | 7 | 74% | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 25 | IND | 14 | 14 | 223 | 6th | 824 | 46 | 76 | 7 | 81% | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 26 | IND | 16 | 16 | 244 | 6th | 992 | 47 | 75 | 4 | 71% | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 27 | IND | 3 | 1 | 22 | 655th | 74 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 89% | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
88 tackles in comeback from injury
Published: 2024-01-20
Leonard bounced back from an injury-filled 2022 season to record 88 tackles in 14 regular-season games split between the Colts and Eagles.
Back issues limited Leonard to three games in 2022, but while he proved his health early in the year with the Colts, he was nonetheless cut in late November. He landed with the Eagles, where he played the last five games of the season. While the fact that he remained on the field was certainly encouraging, he was nowhere near the playmaker he was back in 2021, when he forced eight fumbles and recovered two more. Leonard didn't force nor recover a fumble this season, nor did he intercept a pass, and he finished with just 1.0 sack.
Notches first sack of season
Published: 2023-12-27
Leonard recorded seven tackles (five solo), including one sack, in Monday's 33-25 win against the Giants.
Leonard logged his highest snap count (51) since joining the Eagles on Dec. 4, and he registered his first sack of the campaign when he brought down Tommy DeVito in the second quarter. Leonard appears to be settling in with Philadelphia, playing on 86 percent of the team's defensive snaps Monday after logging just 18 and 47 percent, respectively, in his first two contests with the club. The veteran linebacker could thus re-emerge as an IDP asset over the final two weeks of the regular season -- he was doing fairly well before being cut by the Colts in late November, averaging 7.2 stops over nine games.
Chooses Philly as next destination
Published: 2023-12-04
Leonard signed a one-year contract with the Eagles on Monday.
After being formally waived by the Colts on Nov. 21, Leonard met with both the Cowboys and Eagles last week and weighed offers from both NFC teams. The 28-year-old ultimately decided to commit to Philadelphia, where he should settle into an every-down role at linebacker. Though Leonard -- a three-time first-team All-Pro selection -- may no longer be at peak form after undergoing a pair of back surgeries since June 2022, he still possesses the ranginess to thrive in pass coverage and plug up running lanes. He should provide a quality upgrade over incumbent middle linebacker Nicholas Morrow, who struggled to contain running back Christian McCaffrey in Sunday's 42-19 loss to San Francisco.
Set to visit Dallas on Tuesday
Published: 2023-11-26
Leonard has a visit scheduled with the Cowboys on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The three-time Pro Bowler was waived by the Colts on Nov. 21. Leonard has a visit scheduled for one week after that date with a Dallas team that could be looking to bolster a linebacker group that has been thinned by season-ending injuries to Leighton Vander Esch (neck) and DeMarvion Overshown (knee).
Cut by Colts
Published: 2023-11-21
The Colts waived Leonard on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Leonard's playing time has wavered from week to week all season, but he has tallied at least seven tackles in five straight games and currently sits at 65 stops through nine outings. While he suffered through an injury-plagued 2022, when he made just three appearances, he opened his career with 120-plus tackles in four consecutive campaigns. Expect a number of teams to put in claims for Leonard, though one sticking point may be the $6.1 million that he's owed for the rest of the year on his current contract, per Field Yates of ESPN.
Double-digit tackles for first time
Published: 2023-10-30
Leonard had 11 tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 38-27 loss to the Saints.
It was the first time Leonard reached double-digit tackles this season and was the first time he hit that mark since Oct. 11, 2021. He's up to 46 tackles in seven games, but has yet to record a sack and hasn't done so since the 2020 season. Leonard will look to change that in Week 9 against the Panthers.
Increased playing time
Published: 2023-10-16
Leonard had seven total tackles and a tackle for a loss in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville.
Leonard had a strong performance after missing a game with a groin injury. He also played on 51 of the defense's 62 snaps, a noticeable increase after he saw fewer snaps in Week 3 and Week 4 as the Colts eased him back after injury. Leonard appeared in only three games in 2022 due to a pair of surgeries on his neck and back. He also missed time in the preseason due to a concussion. It looks like Leonard may be back to full strength.
Looks good for Week 6
Published: 2023-10-11
Leonard (groin) was a full participant at practice Wednesday.
Leonard was sidelined for Sunday's game versus Tennessee with a groin injury, but it now looks like he's back to full speed. He'll reclaim a starting role at linebacker in Week 6 at Jacksonville.