Some help is starting to appear at a position the Eagles really need.
The Eagles announced Monday that they are signing three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard to shore up the weakest position on the roster.
Leonard, 28, may not be the player he was in his prime in Indianapolis, but the veteran should be able to help the Eagles’ defense for the remainder of the 2023 season. Leonard is a veteran addition to Kevin Byard, Bradley Roby and Julio Jones this season.
The Eagles have Nakobe Dean and Zach Cunningham as their starting linebackers this season. However, Dean missed most of the season and is back on IR after undergoing foot surgery. Cunningham then injured his hamstring against the Bills and missed the game against the 49ers. The Eagles started Nicholas Morrow and Christian Ellis against the 49ers, but things didn’t work out. The 49ers attacked both players early and often.
If it wasn’t obvious before the 49ers game, it was during the 42-19 beatdown. The Eagles needed outside help. Fortunately for them, Leonard decided to sign with the Eagles instead of the rival Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles will play the Cowboys in North Texas this week on Sunday Night Football.
After visiting the Cowboys early last week, Leonard visited the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni knows Leonard well from their time together in Indianapolis. Last Wednesday, Leonard met with Sirianni in the morning and several other coaches in the early afternoon.
What did Sirianni throw at Leonard?
“All I can do is be honest with him and tell him what’s going on here and what’s going on with this building,” Sirianni said. “I think the only players on the field are the players in this building, and some of them have been with him for a while. I want Shaq to make the decision that’s best for him. Because, again, when you have a previous relationship, you want to make sure of that. And that’s what I said to him, ‘I just want you to make the decision that’s best for you. ” Get all the information from both places and do what is best for you. ”
“So, I’ve called him a lot over the last few days, and I’m like, look, he’s going to make the decision that’s best for him. I’m sure of that. He’s a good guy. .”
Leonard was released by the Colts after recently falling down their pecking order. After clearing his waivers, he was free to sign with any team in the NFL. He ultimately decided to join the Eagles.
Sirianni served as Indianapolis’ offensive coordinator for the first three seasons of Leonard’s career. And after Sirianni blew up his inaugural press conference in Philadelphia in 2021, Leonard defended him on social media.
What does Sirianni remember about Leonard and their time together?
“Yeah, he made a lot of plays, that’s for sure,” Sirianni said last week. “He knew the ropes of the football and how to catch the football. All I remember is, as an offensive coordinator, how hard he was to throw. His length was like Jim’s at Syracuse. Comparable to Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. He’s going to play in the passing lane.
“He was a great teammate and I really enjoyed being around him. I still have a relationship with him. I think he’s a great person, a great teammate, and like I said, The most important thing was the ball and the length that went with it.”
From 2018 to 2021, Leonard was one of the best linebackers and all-around defensive players in the NFL. In those four years, Leonard had 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions, 31 pass breakups, 32 lost tackles and 343 solo tackles. During this period, he was named a Pro Bowler three times and an All-Pro three times.
However, Leonard played in just three games in 2022 due to injury. Leonard had hip surgery that offseason, suffered a concussion in the season opener, and then injured his hip again. In 2023, Leonard no longer looked like the All-Pro version and his playing time began to decline.
It’s unfair to expect Leonard to return to his All-Pro prime, but he should at least help the Eagles at a position they desperately need.
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