According to an announcement from Enter-Sports Management, the Eagles are making one more acquisition before their bye-week comes to an end. The missing piece of the puzzle? Dannell Ellerbe.
Congrats to ESM client, Dannell Ellerbe (@ellerbe59) who is signing with the @Eagles tomorrow! He’s the final piece to the Eagles Super Bowl puzzle. #eagles #flyeaglesfly #philly #philadelphia #nflonfox #nflonespn #nfloncbs #nfl pic.twitter.com/JfLeJTQ6Wr
— EnterSports Management (@EnterSportsMgmt) November 12, 2017
Ellerbe was placed on IR due to a foot injury back in July by the New Orleans Saints. He was subsequently released and has not caught onto another team since. The 31-year old spent the last two years with the team, playing in 15 games and racking up four sacks in 2016. Ellerbe worked out with the Eagles just over two weeks ago after Jordan Hicks sustained his season ending injury.
The Eagles are obviously low on linebacker depth with Hicks sidelined…and the veteran brings more than just experience to the table. Signed as a UDFA by the Baltimore Ravens back in 2009, the connection to Joe Douglas shines through. The Eagles continue to build on the culture that is flourishing within the locker room. Ellerbe spent four years with the Ravens prior to bouncing to Miami.
Without Hicks, the Eagles linebacker group isn’t just light, it’s young. Aside from Bradham and Kendricks, the Birds are left with a second-year player in Joe Walker who is playing in his first defensive snaps in the NFL, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Najee Goode. While they have performed valiantly so far, all three of these players are renowned special teamers. If the Birds are to cement their playoff charge, the veteran presence of yet another Super Bowl champion will only help the young group grow.
