Free agent LB Shaquille Leonard leaves Cowboys for visit with Eagles

Shaquille Leonard, the All-Pro linebacker, did make a stop at Cowboys headquarters, Tuesday, but he left town without a signed contract.

It’s not because sides had no interest in each other. Rather, Leonard is a popular free agent. His abrupt dismissal from the Colts stunned everyone one. And multiple teams are interested in him.

Reports suggest that Leonard left Cowboys headquarters in Frisco to hop a plane for Philadelphia and an interview with the Eagles. The Dallas Morning News reported that Leonard’s departure without n agreed-to deal doesn’t mean he won’t sign with the Cowboys.

When healthy, Leonard is one of the top off-ball linebackers in the NFL. After leading the league in tackles. Leonard earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the year honors in 2018 after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round. He earned first-team All Pro honors in 2018, 2020 and 2021. And in 2021, he signed a five-year contract extension worth $99.25 million contract. That made him the highest paid outside linebacker in the league.

But injuries impacted the past two seasons. He had two back surgeries, including one before the 2022 season started. Leonard believed he came back too soon from injury, so he wanted to be more cautious in 2023. He played in about 70 percent of the snaps and mostly on early downs. Earlier this month, the Colts let him know he’d be inactive the rest of the season and on the practice squad.

Best guess is Leonard will be in lineup of either Cowboys or Eagles

Then a day later, Indianapolis waived him, with team officials saying they didn’t want a player of Leonard’s stature relegated to the practice squad.

“It was the biggest surprise ever,” Leonard told reporters of getting waived. “It was shocking.”

Playoff contenders like the Cowboys and Eagles immediately reached out to set up meetings. And Micah Parsons, the Cowboys star linebacker, placed Leonard’s Colts’ jersey on the wall behind him as he did his weekly podcast.

Jerry Jones also likes Leonard.

“It’s not real hard to see what kind of player he’s been. He’s been outstanding,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, told Dallas radio station 105.3. “When you’ve played as long as he’s played, at the level he’s played, this isn’t a hard scouting job at all. The question is, where he is in his career and where he is health-wise. That’s what it’s all about as far as evaluating everything. The next thing is, how do you get something worked out, if in fact, all that other fits.”

The Cowboys play the Seahawks in Seattle Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Eagles take on the 49ers Sunday. If Leonard signs with either team, it’s doubtful he’d suit up this week. However, the Cowboys and Eagles play at AT&T Stadium, Dec. 10.