It’s been a long, frustrating recovery for Jets safety Jim Leonhard, who is just now beginning to get a sniff of the field following the season-ending leg injury he suffered last December.
For Leonhard, it was the Grinch who stole his NFL season. The loss of the veteran, called by head coach Rex Ryan “the quarterback of our secondary,” was a big blow to the defense.
Leonhard has gone from struggling to get himself to his seat in front of his locker to now standing on the sidelines and following the defense through the opening days of training camp. The team’s medical staff is still keeping his participation low key.
Leonhard’s rehab was grueling, but the staff was surprised how quickly he recovered.
“I tried to get in there as consistently as possible,” Leonhard said about his rehab. “If I could get in there every day, I got in there every day.”
