Leonard hoping to change Rodgers' mind about who NFL's top LB is

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is used to being overlooked and doubted.

Leonard flew under the radar at South Carolina State, and the Colts were widely panned for selecting him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The linebacker quickly showed his talent, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and making the All-Pro team. But he still failed to make the Pro Bowl.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers - who's set to take on Leonard's Colts on Sunday - added more fuel to his incoming opponent's fire by recently calling the San Francisco 49ers' Fred Warner the best linebacker in the NFL.

"I seen it as soon as he said it," Leonard said Thursday, per ESPN's Mike Wells. "You hear things like that and it gives you extra motivation going to play. (Rodgers has) been in the league for a long time. For him to say that about Fred Warner, they play sometimes twice a year, so my first time, I want to leave a mark. Hopefully change his mind on what he said about that."

Leonard has been one of the driving forces of Indy's ascending defense, which is coming off a dominant performance in a win over the Tennessee Titans.

The unit ranks fourth in scoring defense (19.7 points per game), second against the pass (198.7 yards per game), and third in run defense (91.8 yards per game).

But Leonard knows Rodgers, along with star receiver Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones, will provide the Colts' toughest test of the season so far.

"Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback," Leonard said. "That's a bucket list check. Once you're in the league, you want to play against the best, and he's one of the best to do it. I'm pumped for it. It's definitely challenging. They have some great skill guys."