Veteran linebacker Nate Gerry is headed back to the NFC East. The Commanders are signing him, per Mike Kaye of Pro Football Network (Twitter link). 
Gerry, 27, began his career with the Eagles in 2017. He played almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie during the team’s Super Bowl run that year, but took on a larger defensive role with each passing year. In 2019, he played a full season for the first tine, starting 12 contests and setting career highs in tackles (78) and sacks (2.5) along the way. He was a full-time starter the following season, but that campaign was cut short due to an ankle injury.
In free agency. the former fifth-rounder signed with the 49ers. By July, however, he was cut, and remained sidelined throughout the entire 2021 season. Kaye adds that he had not fully recovered from the injury until this offseason (Twitter link). Now, he will look to add starting-caliber depth to Washington’s LB corps.
The Commanders are led at the position by the likes of veterans Cole Holcomb and David Mayo, and 2021 first-rounder Jamin Davis. Gerry – who, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Field Yates, was among several players the team worked out yesterday – could prove to be a valuable find if he is able to regain his form of years past. He will, at a minimum, provide more experienced depth in the middle of the team’s defense than the likes of UDFA Tre Walker, who reversed his retirement decision yesterday.
Washington entered the day with more than $13MM in cap space, so this deal won’t prevent any other additions. Per Kaye’s colleague Aaron Wilson, the team is cutting offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson to make room for Gerry’s arrival (Twitter link).
Super Bowl bound now!
The Redskins have bad form on adding other NFC East castoffs, most recently with slowing Dallas CB Orlando Scandrick. For that matter so does the whole division. The Eagles were bitten last year when they added Ryan Kerrigan who made three tackles for them and two QB hits (not sacks) on a contract of about $3 million. The Eagles remembered what a terror Kerrigan had been against them, but didn’t know his knees were finally failing him.
NFC East teams should just not sign each other’s castoffs.
Or do better physicals before signing them? There is usually a reason if players are cut.