Colts Sign Shaq Leonard to Take His Place
The Indianapolis Colts declared that they had signed Shaquille Leonard to a contract, freeing up the position on the roster.
When the Indianapolis Colts revealed on Tuesday afternoon that they had released star linebacker Shaquille Leonard, it shocked the NFL.
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It’s an intriguing move because of his linebacker categorization more than the fact that he was signed. He has been a safety in his career up to this point.
Harrison Jr. has a wealth of NFL experience. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the sixth-year player in the third round out of Alabama in 2018.
With the Jaguars, he started 22 games in 2018 and 2019. Before joining the Cleveland Browns in 2020, he has 103 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions in Jacksonville.
He was never able to replicate his 2019 numbers in Cleveland, but he still managed 58 tackles, a sack, and an interception in 2021.
Listed 6’2 and 207 pounds, Harrison Jr. certainly has the physical presence to make an impact close to the line of scrimmage. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Harrison Jr. has spent almost exactly half of his defensive alignments in the box with 818 snaps in the box compared to 796 at free safety.
While he certainly isn’t a one for one replacement for Leonard, he’s a versatile, experienced defender who is already familiar with the Colts’ scheme. He could get a chance early and often to play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the Colts make an improbable playoff run.