December 4, 2023   2 MIN READ

Help On The Way?

Hurting Birds Sign Free-Agent LB Shaq Leonard

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One day after linebacker injury issues played a significant role in an Eagles blowout loss, the team added to the position.

The Eagles on Monday announced that they agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Shaq Leonard, who made three Pro Bowl and three All-Pro teams with the Colts before a steep decline led to his benching this season and eventual release.

Shaq Leonard

GETTY IMAGES: Free-agent LB Shaq Leonard decides to sign with Eagles, can help upgrade a thin position.

Leonard, 28, joins an Eagles defense that’s been missing second-year linebacker Nakobe Dean, who’s on injured reserve for the second time, and was without starter Zach Cunningham on Sunday in a 42-19 loss to the 49ers at the Linc.,

Capitalizing on several missed tackles at the middle level featuring linebackers Nic Morrow and Christian Elliss – who were both undrafted – the 49ers totaled more than 450 yards and more than 140 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. It was coach Nick Sirianni’s second-most lopsided loss in nearly three seasons coaching the team.

Leonard’s signing with the Eagles could signal that the team isn’t expecting Cunningham back for their Week 14 game Sunday against Dallas.

Leonard, the 36th overall pick in 2018, has been dogged by back injuries and some other injuries since signing a major extension in 2021. The Colts waived him during the team’s bye week despite owing him about $6 million this season, an indication of just how much the team believed his play had declined.

Personnel sources have likewise told Inside The Birds that Leonard’s play just hasn’t matched his production from 2018-2021.

Leonard, who played at South Carolina State, visited the Cowboys and Eagles last week but took the weekend to make his decision before agreeing to join the Eagles.

Ironically, his decision against signing with Dallas means his first game as an Eagle will come against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

About The Author

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Geoff Mosher is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years experience covering the Eagles, the NFL and other college and pro sports across several different multimedia platforms. He is co-host of the acclaimed Inside the Birds podcast, the leading podcast for intel on the Philadelphia Eagles, and co-host on 97.3 ESPN's drive-time show. He has also hosted on Philadelphia's sports-talk station, 94.1 WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic. Geoff was the lead Eagles Insider from 2012-2015 for NBC Sports Philadelphia, where he wrote for the website and appeared daily on the station's TV shows, including Quick Slants, Philly Sports Talk, Eagles Pregame/Postgame Live and Eagles Extra. Prior to joining NBC Sports, Geoff worked the Eagles beat from 2005-2012 for the Wilmington News Journal, where he broke several major news stories and also won an Associated Press Sports Editors award under the category of Breaking News for his coverage of the sudden death of Phillies play by play broadcaster Harry Kalas. Geoff has appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter, NFL Network, NBC Sports Network, FOX29, 6ABC and has conducted interviews for Sirius/XM NFL radio and countless other radio stations across the country.

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