Eagles Sign Shaq Leonard

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a one year deal with Shaq Leonard, according to an official report from the Eagles.

Leonard, who was released by the Indianapolis Colts and cleared waivers, comes in to provide reinforcements to a defensive secondary that was thoroughly exposed as a weak area during Sunday’s 42-19 shellacking at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers.

Leonard visited the NovaCare Complex late last week after visiting the Dallas Cowboys. During his visit, he caught up with Head Coach Nick Sirianni, who had gotten to know him in Indianapolis when Sirianni was offensive coordinator there.

“All I’ll ever do is just be honest with him and tell him what the situation is here, what the situation is in this building,” Sirianni said to reporters last week when asked about his pitch to Leonard. “I think the pitch is just the guys that we have in this building, and some of them he has a prior relationship, too. I want Shaq to make the decision that’s best for him. Because, again, when there is that prior relationship you want to make sure – and that’s what I said to him, ‘I just want you to make the best decision for you. Take all the information from both places and do what’s best for you.”

The Eagles began the season with Nakobe Dean and Zach Cunningham, both of whom missed Sunday’s game. Dean had been out most of the season and is on injured reserve. Cunningham was dealing with a hamstring injury. Nicholas Morrow and Christian Eliss started, and both were easily dominated. Leonard’s presence should provide additional assistance to a secondary that needs the help.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly expanded Leonard’s first name.