PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Eagles released linebacker Travis Long on Wednesday morning, a day after several media outlets ran features about Long’s attempt to come back from a third torn ACL.
Long, 25, signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and spent the season on the practice squad. He played his college ball at Washington State, where he suffered his first ACL tear, to his right knee.
Long tore his left ACL during training camp in 2014. He came back and tore the ligament again during last year’s training camp. Long spent both the 2014 and 2015 seasons on injured reserve.
The Eagles are a little thin at linebacker. They found out this week that outside linebacker Nigel Bradham is facing a criminal charge in connection with an incident in Miami last week.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, speaking before news of Bradham’s arrest broke and before the release of Long, said Tuesday that he was happy with the team’s linebackers.
“We're happy with the guys we have,” Schwartz said. “[Executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman] and his staff are always looking to improve the team. I think that's the commitment we make to the locker room; that's the commitment we make to the city; that's the commitment we make to the organization, that we are always going to try to look to improve.
“I think we added a couple good players in the offseason and we've been happy with the progress. There's always going to be times you need more depth and there's always going to be things that come up along the way.”
Bradham and the rest of the Eagles veterans are expected to report Wednesday to the NovaCare Complex. Their first practice is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
