Colts All-Pro LB Shaquille Leonard, DT DeForest Buckner are active vs. Titans

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Maniac is officially back.

Colts All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard is among the active players for Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. After practicing for weeks through a back issue stemming from a June surgery, he will take the field and start at middle linebacker for the first time in Gus Bradley's defense.

All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is also active after sitting out practice all week with an elbow injury. The Colts will be at full-strength on defense aside from free safety Julian Blackmon, who is out with an ankle injury. Seventh-round rookie Rodney Thomas II will start in his place.

MORE: For Colts rookie Rodney Thomas II, that swat of Patrick Mahomes was years in the making at Yale

Inactive players for the Colts include Blackmon, quarterback Sam Ehlinger, center Wesley French, cornerback Dallas Flowers, wide receiver Dezmon Patmon, offensive tackle Luke Tenuta and defensive tackle Chris Williams.

Leonard has not played in a game since Week 18 of last year, when the Colts fell apart against the Jaguars to end their season at 9-8. He sat out training camp after undergoing surgery to correct a nerve issue in his back that was causing shooting pain into his calf and ankle. He was able to return to practices for the start of the regular season, but it has taken weeks for him to get back to moving and feeling close to the level he's played at for the past four seasons, when he's reached three Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro lists.

Leonard led the NFL in turnovers forced last season with 15. He could provide a boost to a defense coming off its best performance against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs but one hoping to create more turnovers, as it has just two through three games this season.

The test will be strong again Sunday, with the rival Titans and Derrick Henry in town.

Contact Colts insider Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts LB Shaquille Leonard, DT DeForest Buckner are active vs. Titans