Veteran linebacker Shaquille Leonard announced Tuesday he has been waived by the Indianapolis Colts.
Leonard issued a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming his departure and thanking Colts fans.
Darius Shaquille Leonard @dsleon45Indy, I thank you 💜 <a href="">
Colts owner Jim Irsay also offered a statement on the move:
Jim Irsay @JimIrsayTough business.. 💙 <a href="">
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero provided the financial details with the three-time All-Pro now hitting waivers:
Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroShaquille Leonard is making a $15.7 million guaranteed base salary -- about $6.1M for the rest of this season -- and has another $6.5M guaranteed for injury in 2024, so it's hard to imagine he gets claimed. In all likelihood, he'll clear and become a free agent.
He has appeared in nine games this year, missing Indianapolis' Week 5 victory over the Tennessee Titans due to a groin injury.
However, Leonard played just 70 percent of the team's defensive snaps when active, per Pro Football Reference. By contrast, he had never finished below 93 percent in that category prior to 2022, when back trouble and a concussion limited him to three games.
The 28-year-old isn't performing up to his usual standard. His 65 tackles put him on pace to eclipse the century mark for the fifth time, but he has yet to register a sack. His missed tackle rate (7.1 percent) is the highest of his career as well.
Zach Hicks @ZachHicks2Shaquille Leonard release is a bit shocking but it makes sense if you only look at this year of play.<br><br>He just simply doesn't move like he used to
"Leonard's production has not lined up with his salary," The Athletic's James Boyd wrote. "Even if it seems premature for Indianapolis to cut him midseason, it also appeared to be inevitable. Leonard signed a well-deserved five-year, $98.5 million extension in Aug. 2021, but this year he was essentially reduced to being an overpaid rotational linebacker."
Still, Leonard's release comes as a bit of a surprise since he remained a starter for the Colts, and moving on from him now doesn't provide any short-term financial relief if the rest of the league lets him clear waivers.
In addition, Indianapolis is only one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
Players of Leonard's stature typically don't become available this point in the season. The trade deadline has passed, and the free agents who would've provided a meaningful impact have long since signed somewhere.
Of course, whoever adds Leonard isn't getting the same player who reeled off three straight Pro Bowl nods. He'll provide some nice depth at linebacker, but he may not tip the scales much for a team attempting to move up in the standings.
