So what happened???
If you did not see the writing on the wall regarding the eventual release of Colts Linebacker Shaquille Leonard, then under what rock have you been sleeping? The Colts drafted Leonard in the top of the 2nd round (#36 overall) of the 2018 draft. He quickly became a tackling machine and a ballhawking turnover magnet, earning the nickname of Maniac.
Leonard was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the year for the 2018 season, and seemed to be riding a rocket to the Hall of Fame until injuries brought him back to earth. Leonard missed the first 3 weeks of the 2022 season recovering from offseason back surgery. This back surgery was a mystery to fans like myself. He had a minor ankle surgery in June 2021, and was expected to make a full recovery. He then signed a massive contract extension. He never felt the same during the 2021 season although he played relatively well.
My back is affecting my ankle? Say what??
On June 7, 2022, The Colts announced that Leonard had undergone back surgery and the hope was that he would be ready in time for the regular season. It was discovered that Leonard had 2 bulging discs in his back that was causing issues with his calf. He underwent a second back surgery just five months later in November 2022. So technically, it wasn’t his ankle that was the issue. So what exactly was surgically repaired in his ankle in 2021?
Sadly, I knew Leonard’s path to the Hall of Fame was pretty much done, and he would most likely never be the Maniac again. I knew this from my own personal experience dealing with a back injury that I sustained while I was in the Army. Before I went on active duty, I was well on my way to physical therapy school but opted for the Army instead, so I was already well-versed in anatomy and physiology.
The thing with nerve injuries is that the nerves rarely if ever heal back to 100%. The level of recovery also depends on how long the nerve was under pressure. Bulging discs in the back can have different levels of severity, and most people can live with them with physical therapy and medication. The pain and issues start when that disc impinges a nerve. Most people know this as a pinched nerve and the pressure can cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. In my case, I dealt with intermittent pain along my sciatic nerve for years. I would have times where I could barely move for days and then it would clear up for months. I went about 10 years of this until one day an innocent sneeze ruptured that disc and I was pretty much bedridden for a few days. At that point, surgery couldn’t be avoided. The surgery was simple and quick, but the damage to the nerve had already been done. My dad had gone through this years before me and ended up needing spinal fusion surgery after nerve damage cause him to lose feeling in his foot/ankle. I’m not elite athlete, but I knew what little dreams I had about running a marathon or competing in higher level 10K or 5K events was gone.
Leonard is an elite athlete though….
With Leonard, I’m sure his doctors provided him with possible good and bad outcomes with or without surgery and I’m sure possible nerve damage was mentioned. Since Leonard is an elite athlete and the ultimate competitor, he was sure he would quickly become the Moniac again, but I was probably one of the only fans that didn’t think he would get back to that level again. His game was so predicated on his instinct and explosiveness and it was a beautiful thing to watch! His vision, mind and body were all so in sync making him a turnover machine. He’s clearly lost at least a half a step, and unfortunately for him that half a step is all it takes to throw everything out of whack.
What happens now?
Shaquille is still young and he is still a football player. There have been many NFL players who suffered an injury and were able to reinvent themselves to go on to have great careers. In the right system, I see no reason why Shaq wouldn’t be able to do the same. Remember Peyton Manning’s second career with the Denver Broncos?
