The Eagles announced the release of linebacker Will Witherspoon this afternoon.
The veteran linebacker came over from St. Louis last season in a trade deadline deal for rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round draft pick.
The Eagles made the move “so he can catch on somewhere else,” general manager Howie Roseman told Philly.com.
Witherspoon was acquired last season to fill in at middle linebacker when Stewart Bradley went down with an injury in the preseason.
He started games at middle and weak-side linebacker for the Birds after Jeremiah Trotter was brought back in to play at the middle spot.
Witherspoon was scheduled to make $5 million this season and the Eagles couldn’t justify paying that much money to a backup as Bradley will be making his return from a knee injury.
