INDIANAPOLIS — When Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard was hit by massive Miami tackle Ja'Wuan James as he tried to change direction on the first play of Sunday's win over the Dolphins, the Colts' rookie linebacker thought he'd suffered a serious injury to his right knee.

Family history told him it was a possibility.

"I was scared," Leonard said. "My sister and my brother both tore their ACLs, and the way they described their injury was kind of what happened to me. My knee popped, so I was kind of nervous."

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Leonard headed directly to the locker room with trainers after the play, prompting fears that he'd suffered a serious injury. Few NFL players head directly to the locker room; most are examined on the sideline first.

But as he walked, Leonard realized his first fears would be unrealized.

"I actually felt better walking in, and I passed all the exams, so I felt good," Leonard said. "I was just ready to go back in and play.”

Leonard was back on the field for the start of the Colts' next defensive series, and the knee felt fine the rest of the game. Leonard does not expect the knee to be an issue moving forward.

“I had a small brace, but that was more so it wouldn’t get stiff,” Leonard said.

By game's end, the NFL's leading tackler had a team-high 10 tackles and his team-leading sixth sack of the season.