INDIANAPOLIS — The bye week came at an ideal time for the Indianapolis Colts, as the few extra days of rest did wonders for several key players working their way back from injuries.

Case in point: two of those players — linebacker Darius Leonard and Clayton Geathers — were both able to clear the league's concussion protocol and participate in a bonus practice day of sorts on Monday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.

Colts head coach Frank Reich said with Sunday's major divisional matchup against the Houston Texans on the horizon, it felt good to see two of his defensive leaders back out on the practice field today.

"Two key leaders," Reich told Colts.com's Matt Taylor on Monday. "Darius, obviously, he's the vocal, emotional leader, right? And Clayton is just a backbone of that defense, (with) his mindset and toughness. So getting both of those guys back is a big lift for our defense."

Leonard has missed the Colts' last three games after experiencing concussion-like symptoms following Indy's Week 2 victory over the Tennessee Titans; he was subsequently placed in the league's concussion protocol.

The All-Pro linebacker was able to get back to limited participation in all three of the Colts' practices leading up to their Week 5 matchup against the Chiefs, but Reich said Leonard was not going to be able to pass all the steps required to clear the concussion protocol by kickoff.

With Leonard out, the team has shifted MIKE linebacker Anthony Walker into his place at WILL linebacker, while rookie Bobby Okereke has gotten his first three career starts at MIKE linebacker.

Geathers, meanwhile, played all 67 defensive snaps in the Colts' Week 4 matchup against the Oakland Raiders, but was placed in the concussion protocol after experiencing symptoms following the game.