By Michael Donovan
The Eagles announced today that they have released linebacker DeMeco Ryans (above), clearing the way for 2015 rookie Jordan Hicks to be a starter.
Ryan, a two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebacker, was acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans in 2012. In his four seasons with the Eagles, Ryans posted 458 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, five sacks and five interceptions in 54 regular season games. More importantly, Ryans was a leader and a role model for the young players to epitomize.
In his first season with the Eagles, Ryans led the team with 148 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss. He followed that up with arguably his best season as a pro with career highs in tackles (177), sacks (4) and interceptions (2). It was the sixth time in his career that he eclipsed the 100-tackle plateau. He was also an ironman over the two seasons starting all 32 regular season games and playing a combined 2,202 snaps on defense including all 1,045 in the 2012 campaign.
Ryans was on his way to another 100-tackle season in 2014 when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in his return to Houston and missed the final eight games of the year. He rebounded to play 14 games in 2015 (13 starts) and had 68 tackles and an interception.
