Eagles Bring Paul Worrilow Back

(973espn.com) - As expected the Eagles have re-signed veteran linebacker Paul Worrilow to another one-year deal.

Worrilow, a University of Delaware product, spent last season on injured reserve after tearing his ACL during his first spring OTA practice with the team on May 22 when he collided with fellow LB Corey Nelson.

“It was hard. It was tough, especially in the moment for sure,” Worrilow told the Eagles' website. “But I’m one of those guys who tries to live in the moment as much as I can. I was injured. They told me the extent of the injury. I was like, ‘OK, what’s next? How do I rehab this? Let’s go.’ And that’s what I did."

Worrilow first signed with Philadelphia as a free agent last March after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with Atlanta after catching on as an undrafted free agent and then spending 2017 with Detroit. He played 13 games with the Lions in 2017, starting eight and playing in about 25 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

The 6-foot, 230-pound Worrilow is regarded as more of a run-stuffer than pass defender and was projected to be a potential starter at weak-side linebacker and the top backup to the nickel combination of Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham, a role ultimately filled by
Kamu Grugier-Hill.

This time around Hicks is scheduled to be a free agent in March so if Worrilow can return at full strength he should again have an opportunity to carve out a role for himself.

"I tried to channel my competitiveness into everything I did," Worrilow said. "I can confidently say that this is the best shape I’ve been in, collectively, since I’ve been in the league. It’s rare that you get this much time to train. Usually, you play, get a little time off and then get back into the offseason training program. This is the best shape I’ve been in. I’m stronger now at this point than I was after my last season in Detroit by far."

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen