Colts LB Leonard out; WRs Pierce, Pittman return

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard has made “incremental progress” in his return from again surgical procedure however stays unable to “play successful soccer and really feel assured,” coach Frank Reich mentioned Friday.

Leonard was dominated out of the Sunday recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs regardless of having practiced with the Colts for the previous three weeks, prompting questions in regards to the timeline for the three-time first-team All-Professional choice.

Reich spoke expansively about Leonard’s standing for the primary time in weeks, saying the group is making its personal evaluations of the linebacker’s potential to return to motion in addition to intently following the participant’s steering.

“It is a collaborative choice,” Reich mentioned. “However clearly the participant’s the one who’s received to play. And solely he really is aware of the way it feels. So, we watch tape and we are able to see while you take a look at tape from final 12 months or the 12 months earlier than versus tape now, and also you watch him transfer, we’re doing that. And it isn’t the identical. We want it to look the identical. From our standpoint, we want that tape to appear to be what it appeared like while you have been comparatively wholesome.

“That is one aspect of it. After which the aspect from Shaq is that he must really feel it. So, that is the place it is collaborative.”

Leonard underwent again surgical procedure in June to handle lower-body ache stemming from a nerve difficulty. Whereas Leonard and the Colts have mentioned the process resolved the issue, the restoration from the surgical procedure has been a prolonged course of.

“This damage, it is a bear,” Reich mentioned. “He is preventing and scratching each second to get again on the sector. I promise you that. He’s doing all the things he can to get again on the market. It is killing him.” The Colts thought of putting Leonard on the bodily unable to carry out checklist or injured reserve at an earlier level, however these choices would have prevented him from practising with the group.

“We knew when you do not take these different steps, all people’s going to assume [he’s playing] Week 1, Week 2,” Reich mentioned. “It was taking a bit of little bit of of venture that the final step would go quicker than in accordance with plan, however all the things goes in accordance with plan. It is a robust damage, he is dealing with it the fitting manner, he has the fitting angle and we’ll proceed simply happening this course.”

Elsewhere, the Colts received constructive damage information with the anticipated returns of receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (quad) and Alec Pierce (concussion). Pittman, in accordance with Reich is “able to go.” Pierce, Reich mentioned, cleared concussion protocol Thursday and can play.

Defensive finish Yannick Ngakoue (again) shall be listed as questionable.