Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard spoke with reporters following his return to the field after the Colts' first training camp practice. He spoke about how it felt to be back as well as what he still needs to do to get full clearance. (Video by Jake Arthur)
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:02 >> Seth, are you back?
00:04 I think you're back.
00:05 >> Yeah, I feel good to get back out there.
00:08 First time in a while, I felt it was good.
00:10 So, I wanna continue to stack the days and get better each day.
00:14 >> Does this rehab feel different at this point?
00:19 >> Yeah, of course.
00:20 I feel like I'm getting better.
00:22 I mean, I feel way different than I did last year.
00:26 I feel confident, so I just wanna continue to come out,
00:28 work as hard as I possibly can, and be the best version of myself for this team.
00:32 >> You're the only one that knows how you feel.
00:34 What tells you that you're making that next step and stacking the work you said?
00:38 >> I'm just practicing, practicing and going against my teammates.
00:42 When you're working by yourself, it's hard to judge.
00:45 So now, when I'm being in a team setting, going against the guys,
00:49 working on hands and feet, and just being in space, and just seeing can I improve each
00:54 day.
00:54 >> You feel pretty fluid out there.
00:58 >> Yeah, I mean, today was the best I've felt in a long time.
01:01 So I'm happy with it.
01:04 Just thank God, so we're gonna be working with me this whole time and
01:07 continue to work.
01:08 So yeah, I'm feeling good.
01:09 >> What did you miss out?
01:10 Did that surprise you at all, how much you did?
01:13 >> Yeah, I mean, they most definitely surprised me.
01:15 I was nervous.
01:16 I felt like this was a game day for me.
01:19 First time in a while, no sleep last night, jitterbugs all morning.
01:23 I probably didn't truly feel like myself to the individual.
01:27 I was just so nervous.
01:29 And after that, it just felt like just right where I left off, just coming in and
01:33 just being a leader for this team and just being able to just run around,
01:36 hopefully make some plays.
01:37 >> When did you get the clearance?
01:38 >> Is there such a thing as feeling normal at this point,
01:40 or are you trying to find a new normal for yourself?
01:43 >> A little bit of both.
01:45 A little bit of both.
01:46 I feel good.
01:47 Again, you wanna make sure what things I am lacking,
01:50 trying to make sure how can I play around, so yeah.
01:53 >> When did you get the clearance?
01:54 >> I got it.
01:56 I think we're about to talk to you guys on what, the 25th?
01:59 I got to clear on the 25th.
02:00 >> [LAUGH] >> What bits of hurdle did you,
02:03 are you maybe still going through just as far as feeling like yourself?
02:06 >> It was just hard just running and not feeling anything.
02:11 Just being away from the team, just running on T-80s, sitting on the sideline,
02:17 not doing anything with the team, just feeling a little, just feeling left out.
02:21 Just feeling like not being a part of the team, and that was the hardest thing.
02:24 I mean, I love to get out there with my teammates and
02:28 me to be able to take a new every day while watching my guys work.
02:31 That kind of was a punch in the gut.
02:33 So that was the hardest thing, and just building that confidence.
02:36 And I think that's what it was the whole off season,
02:39 just continue to do the everyday drills, every single day, just so
02:43 I can get confidence.
02:44 And now I'm here and hopefully can continue to build more confidence.
02:47 >> You talked about how difficult it was to go through this, I guess, previously.
02:51 And we were kind of wondering, back to who I am,
02:54 do you see lightening in the tunnel now, like I can be Shaq again, maybe?
02:58 >> I think, I mean, coming in today, I felt like I was still in the dark.
03:03 I probably won't say there's lightening in the tunnel until I watch the tape and
03:07 see how was I moving, how was I competing against my teammates.
03:10 And then I can feel better about myself, because like I said,
03:13 I was working out by myself for maybe two months.
03:15 So now this is my first day of actually going out and
03:17 competing with people in front of me.
03:20 So once I go back and watch the tape, then I kind of feel way off my shoulders or
03:24 just whatever the tape tells me.
03:26 >> Is there anything that you've got- >> Is there any sort of eagerness,
03:28 the excitement to get back on the field, but also any sort of hesitation,
03:31 needing to be cautious with maybe having rushed it or
03:34 going back a little too quickly, or is it just-
03:36 >> Yeah, just learning from my mistakes.
03:38 I feel like last year, I was just so eager to get back out there.
03:42 And I just, I feel like I hurt myself again.
03:44 That's why I had to have the second surgery in November.
03:47 So just learning from that and learning how to take it, take it slow and
03:49 talking to the coaches and trainers that said, hey, you got me on the cap.
03:53 That is what it is.
03:54 And even though I might come to the sidelines and
03:56 then get two or three more plays, just be the bad guy, say no.
04:00 So they know how I am.
04:01 They know that I love and wanna be on the field, but
04:03 they know they gotta protect me as well.
04:05 >> Is there a next thing that you've gotta get through to prove to yourself
04:08 you're gonna be ready in September?
04:10 >> Yeah, just practicing.
04:11 It is just playing football.
04:13 I haven't played football since November.
04:16 So I should just get back in there, get my feet up under me,
04:20 contact and all that stuff.
04:22 So yeah, just playing football.
04:23 >> How did it feel to hear more of the crowd?
04:24 Like you got on the field and kinda hyped them up.
04:26 And that's something you would not see like happen on game day.
04:28 Did it feel, like you said, it felt like game day.
04:30 So how did that feel?
04:30 >> I mean, I just got the chills since you asked me that, man.
04:32 That was emotional for me.
04:35 It's been a long journey, man.
04:37 It's been a long journey and it's just, I see a lot of bad things.
04:41 People thought that I was just sitting out, just sit out and
04:45 not understanding that I was fighting my tail off to get back and
04:49 being the best version of myself for this team.
04:50 And then to come out here and just hearing the crowd excitement just when we get
04:54 back on the field, that was just reassurance that these fans are still with me.
04:59 And I'm doing something right and hopefully I can continue to make them proud.
05:02 >> You guys have all that you've done, the all throws and all that you've done.
05:06 Getting your nervous last time you canceled.
05:07 Is that a reflection of all you've been through to get to this point?
05:11 >> Yeah, and I was actually talking to someone today
05:15 about being nervous and it's just because I care so much.
05:18 I care so much about football and I love what I do.
05:21 And football is the only thing in my life that makes the world stop.
05:25 All the bad things that's going on in my life, all the stress that's going on,
05:29 I step between the white line.
05:30 That's the only time where all that is come to a pause.
05:34 And once that was taken away from me, my safe haven spot was gone.
05:37 So now that I'm back, having a safe haven spot, man, it's a blessing.
05:42 And that's why I was so nervous last night because I didn't wanna come out and
05:47 have a repeat of something I did last year.
05:49 And I think that's why I had a nervous energy and
05:52 just wanted to be eager to come out and play for the guys.
05:55 >> Do you have any plans to have rest days or
05:58 anything like that built in this camp?
06:00 >> I mean, it's where the coaches and trainers come up with.
06:03 My job is to come in every day and be ready when the number is calling.
06:05 And that's all I can do.