Updated: Monday, 11:18 a.m.
The Eagles are adding some linebacker depth as they prepare to begin the second half of their season and possibly a push deep into the playoffs.
The team signed veteran Dannell Ellerbe on Monday. His agency, Enter-Sports, announced on Sunday that the deal was coming.
To make room for Ellerbe on the 53-man roster, the team has waived cornerback Dexter McDougle. McDougle was acquired in a trade for Terrence Brooks in late August. He has played 55 defensive snaps this season. This move could be an indication that Ronald Darby is on his way back.
Ellerbe, 31, was most recently with the Saints. He suffered a foot injury during the summer and was later cut by New Orleans. Ellerbe reportedly worked out for the Eagles recently and is apparently healed and in shape.
The Eagles will be without middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (Achilles) for the rest of the 2017 season, so it makes sense that they'd try to add some depth. Hicks tore his Achilles on Oct. 23.
The Birds have Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks and had been using a combination of Joe Walker and Bradham in their base package. This move will offer the Eagles some more experienced depth. It's unclear how Ellerbe will be used.
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Ellerbe brings with him a ton of experience. He has played in 77 career games and has 42 career starts. In 2016, he played in nine games and started eight for the Saints.
Before then, he played two years in Miami and played four years in Baltimore before that.
Baltimore is where his Eagles connection comes in. When the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia in 2009, Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas was an East Coast scout for the Ravens.
