After getting routed by the 49ers on Sunday, the Eagles got some much-needed good news on Monday.
The team announced that they have signed former Colts LB Shaq Leonard. The three-time Pro Bowler visited the Cowboys and Eagles last week and decided that Philadelphia was the best situation for him.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it’s a one-year deal.
The 28-year-old is coming off back surgery last season, which caused him to miss 14 games in 2022. This season, Leonard played in nine games with the Colts.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, who spent time with Leonard when the two were together with the Colts, reacted to the signing.
“Just found out through – [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman] and I talked earlier today,” Sirianni said. “Obviously really excited about that. We just feel like he adds that depth to our team with some of the injuries that we’ve had there…
“We’re confident in the player we’re getting. Confident in the person we’re getting.”
According to Sirianni, Leonard is still a solid played based on what he’s seen on film.
“Again, we know we’re getting the right person, right leader, with all that,” he said. “And we still have confidence from the tape that he still can play, and he’s been a high-level player in this league for a very long time; ’18, his first year in. That’s a long time to be — three-time all-pro player. Still has a knack to take the ball away. Still has that knack to run and hit the ball carrier. Still has the length that he had to make throws hard in the passing lane.
“So excited about the player we’re getting. Again, I don’t want to make any mistake about it, I like our linebackers. I know yesterday was a tough day for us, but still have a lot of the faith in the linebackers and the people we have in the building. Just going to be a good addition with Shaq in this building.”
At this point, Sirianni is still determining if Leonard will debut Sunday night in Dallas against the Cowboys.
As Sirianni pointed out, the Eagles’ linebackers had a hard time covering and stopping the run against the 49ers, so that position clearly needed an upgrade, especially with Zach Cunningham(hamstring) out; hopefully, for them, Leonard is that guy.
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