PHILADELPHIA -- There was no sign of linebacker Stephen Tulloch at Sunday’s Philadelphia Eagles practice. But this clearly seems to be the right time and place for the Eagles to add Tulloch to their roster.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Saturday that the Eagles were in “heavy negotiations” with the 31-year-old Tulloch. Since Tulloch was released by the Detroit Lions last month, there has been speculation he could wind up in Philadelphia.
Not only are the Eagles light at linebacker, their new defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, coached Tulloch for six years with the Lions and Titans.
“I’ve got a lot of background with Steve,” Schwartz said. “I was with Tennessee when we drafted him and ended up being starting middle linebacker for us there. When I was head coach in Detroit, we brought him up there. I have a lot of respect for that guy and his production.”
The timing also makes sense. If the Eagles had signed Tulloch before camp started, he would have been taking first- or second-team reps. This way, Schwartz and his staff got to watch other young linebackers get more opportunities to play and earn their way into the picture.
With the preseason opener Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it would be a good time for Tulloch to join the Eagles and still have enough time to prepare for the regular season.
Will it happen? There was no indication of that Sunday. Schwartz said he would leave such decisions to Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas, the Eagles’ top two personnel men.
“Howie and Joe, those guys, all the scouts are always looking for ways to improve our team,” Schwartz said. “So whoever is out there that can improve our team, whether it's a guy like Tully who is unsigned or guys that are on other teams, that they’re looking at roster numbers -- we're going to watch preseason games and be looking at the waiver wire. That's what the personnel department does. I trust those guys to explore every option that would help us.”
Second-year linebacker Jordan Hicks is the Eagles' starter in the middle. He said he hadn’t heard reports about Tulloch coming to town.
“I know the defense,” Hicks said. “I know where everyone is supposed to be.”
Hicks, Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks give the Eagles a solid group of starting linebackers, but the issue is depth. Schwartz said he was content with the players on hand.
“We have some good veterans here,” Schwartz said. “Najee Goode is a young veteran, but I think he does a great job in that role. I think we've got a good mix of younger players and older players.”
Goode is in his fifth season. After him, the Eagles’ linebacking group includes second-year pro Deontae Skinner and rookies Joe Walker, Myke Tavarres, Quentin Gause and Don Cherry.
The Eagles are switching from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3. That has meant linebackers Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Marcus Smith and Bryan Braman have moved to defensive end. The Eagles also released veteran DeMeco Ryans and traded Kiko Alonso, further eroding their linebacker depth.
Tulloch would help. He followed Schwartz from Tennessee to Detroit with a one-year contract in 2011. After that season, the Lions signed Tulloch to a five-year contract. Schwartz was fired two years later and Tulloch tore his ACL in 2014. He played in all 16 games last season but was told he didn’t fit into the Lions' plans for 2016.
Upon being released July 5, Tulloch became an unrestricted free agent.