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Sproles returns to Eagles with 1-year deal

Field Level Media

July 19, 2019 at 11:54 pm.

The Philadelphia Eagles on Friday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with 36-year-old running back Darren Sproles, the team announced.

“My heart is in Philly. That’s where I want to end my career,” Sproles said on the team’s website. “That team, the city is like a family.”

Sproles, who ranks sixth all-time in the NFL in all-purpose yards (19,520), needs 163 yards to pass Tim Brown for fifth place. The three-time Pro Bowler will begin his sixth season with the Eagles after spending the first six years of his career with the San Diego Chargers and then playing three years with the New Orleans Saints.

“We are excited to bring Darren back,” the Eagles said in a statement. “It isn’t very often that you have the opportunity to add a player who has the sixth-most (all-purpose) yards in NFL history. He is the ultimate professional, and a leader on and off the field. He will add another proven talent to our running back room. His dynamic punt return skills are second to none. We can’t wait to get started next week.”

Sproles had discussed retiring after the 2017 season, the year he sustained a torn left anterior cruciate ligament and broken right arm in Week 3. He returned for last season but missed 10 games due to a hamstring injury.

He said he came back for 2018 because “I couldn’t let my career end like that.”

Sproles had topped 1,100 all-purpose yards in all 11 of his full seasons, peaking with an NFL-best 2,696 in 2011 with the Saints.

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