LB Shaquille Leonard joins Eagles over Cowboys،
PHILADELPHIA — A much-needed linebacker relief is on the way, as the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran Shaquille Leonard on Monday.
Leonard was hesitant between signing with the Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys. These two teams face off Sunday night in a crucial NFC East game.
The Eagles also inquired about tight end Zach Ertz, who played for the 2013-21 team, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Ertz, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals last week, is still evaluating his options as of Monday afternoon, the source told Fowler. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert has been sidelined since suffering a broken forearm in Week 9.
The Eagles have received inconsistent play from the linebacker position for much of the season, in part due to injuries. They lost starters Nakobe Dean and Zach Cunningham to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, and the middle of the defense struggled mightily in a lopsided 42-19 loss.
Linebackers Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss were each targeted a team-high four times, according to Next Gen Stats data, producing five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Philadelphia hopes Cunningham (hamstring) will be back in action soon, and Dean (Lisfranc) is eligible to come off injured reserve for the Seattle Seahawks game on Dec. 18. Either way, a helping hand at this position will be welcome.
Leonard underwent two back surgeries last season to address nerve issues that affected his lower body and limited his explosiveness. His playing time had been inconsistent during his recovery, but coaches told him they would continue to revisit the issue as the season progressed.
But after a disappointing play, Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley told Leonard he was going to be inactive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 26. That status was likely to remain for the rest of the season, a source told ESPN's Stephen Holder.
Leonard, 28, had spoken to reporters several times before his release about his dissatisfaction with his playing time.
“I always say they say [complaints] everything's fine until you step on toes,” he said in November. “I said it two weeks ago, and I still stand by it. I don't know if that played a role. Do I think that plays a role in all of this? Yes, because they might see it as a distraction. But I tried to be respectful in my response.”
Leonard, a 2018 second-round pick out of South Carolina State and Defensive Rookie of the Year, was a first-team All-Pro in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Leonard has 614 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 17 forced fumbles since entering the league.
