A healthy Ronald Darby will be a significant addition to the Eagles’ defense, but Jim Schwartz indicated that he doesn’t want to fast-track Darby’s return to the left corner.
The team’s defensive coordinator took a similar stance Tuesday toward the signing this week of veteran linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. The assumption is that Ellerbe will replace Joe Walker as a base-defense thumper, helping paper over the loss of Jordan Hicks for the season, but Schwartz said he’d decide where Ellerbe fits after Ellerbe is back in football shape and after he has learned all three linebacking positions in the Eagles’ scheme.