Eagles sign Ndamukong Suh, bolstering the defensive line with a 5-time Pro Bowler

On Thursday afternoon, general manager Howie Roseman arrived at the outdoor fields at the NovaCare Complex. With temperatures dipping into the low 40s, Roseman sported a thick winter coat while he observed coaches and players preparing for the team’s road game against the Indianapolis Colts.

As Roseman passed by a small group of reporters, he flashed a sly smile and jokingly shouted toward a nearby Eagles official: “They’re all on their phones!”

About 20 minutes later — while the Eagles still were on the field — news broke that the team had signed veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a one-year deal. Following the conclusion of practice, the locker room was noticeably upbeat, with several players talking up the team’s latest additions.

Suh’s signing occurred one day after the Eagles added another veteran defensive tackle in Linval Joseph.

By signing Joseph and Suh on consecutive days, the front office is signaling the Eagles are prepared to maximize the remainder of the season and make a deep playoff push.

“I hope that’s the message to everyone in the locker room,” cornerback Darius Slay said. “Everybody isn’t here to just be a participant. We’re trying to win the Super Bowl. Howie does a good job at making it known he’s trying to get the confetti to fall on him again. I want that too.”

Slay spent the first two seasons of his career with Suh on the Lions. Over the last few days, Slay acknowledged, he had multiple conversations about the Eagles with Suh before he ultimately signed.

“That’s my guy, man,” Slay said. “He taught me how to be a pro. He helped groom me as a man. He’s an amazing dude. He set me up pretty good in Detroit, I appreciate him.”

A five-time Pro Bowler, Suh, 35, is expected to aid a defensive front that is dealing with multiple injuries. First-round pick Jordan Davis is sidelined on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. With Davis missing the last two games, the unit has been susceptible to allowing big gains on the ground.

Throughout his career, Suh, has been most effective while lined up as a 3-technique between the right guard and right tackle. Selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft by the Lions, Suh has played in 191 career games with 590 tackles, 212 quarterback hits, and 70½ sacks. Remarkably, he has never missed a game due to injury.

Last season, Suh had 27 tackles, six sacks, and 13 quarterback hits over 17 games with the Buccaneers.

“It’s all 11 guys,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said Thursday morning while discussing necessary improvements in the run defense. “It’s got to be consistently throughout the game ... because run game, run defense — it’s not one or two guys, it’s all 11. It’s all 11 guys, and we have to execute at a high level, just like in everything, situation, pass game, but especially the run game as well.

“When you’re playing a game in third-and-short all day and it’s not known pass on third down, it’s a hard way to go for us. We don’t want to play like that, and we know that, and we have to get cleaned up.”

Coming off their first loss of the season, the Eagles (8-1) have emerged as one of the most complete teams in the NFC. Suh joins a defensive tackle room that features Davis, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Milton Williams, and Marlon Tuipulotu, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Asked about Suh’s reputation as a “nasty player” — he previously was suspended for two games for on-field conduct — Slay changed course on the conversation’s tone: “He’s never been a nasty player. It’s not even considered by teammates. He just likes to defend his teammates. There’s never been a nasty thing about him. Everybody thinks about when he did so-called dirty stuff. But watching the film, a lot of guys do dirty stuff to him. People mess with him because they know he’ll retaliate.

“He’s got a lot left in the tank. This is a great opportunity for him to build on his Hall of Fame career. He has a good chance on a winning team. He’s going to help us, for sure.”

Similar to many NFL fans and pundits, Joseph spent the last 2½ months consuming a lot of football from his living room couch. The 6-foot-4, 329-pound defensive tackle subscribes to NFL Sunday Ticket, which allowed him to watch whatever team he pleased.

As the Eagles stormed to eight consecutive victories to begin the regular season, Joseph took notice. About two weeks ago, he and his representation engaged in conversations with Roseman and the Eagles. By early this week, the two sides had a deal in place.

“I’m blessed to be here,” Joseph said Thursday in front of his locker. “I’m going to give it all I’ve got. I had a couple of opportunities. But, at the same time, I wanted an opportunity where I could play and be valued. This was the best opportunity, I had to take it. It’s a great all-around team. I’ve only been here for one day, but it feels like I’ve been here the whole time since the start of the season.”

Over 171 career games, Joseph has registered 644 tackles, including 56 for loss, with eight forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. He was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2010 draft. Joseph played a key role as a starter during the Giants’ Super Bowl run in 2011.

Last season, Joseph appeared in 14 games (12 starts) with 57 tackles for the Chargers. While he acknowledged it will take time to learn the playbook and adjust, Joseph expressed eagerness in wanting to get on the field as quickly as possible. Over the last few months, Joseph has tried to stay in “football shape” while training from his home in Minnesota.

“I’ve been getting stronger. This is the best I’ve felt in three years,” he said. “I would love to have another ring. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to make this team better. I’ve been in the NFL 13 years. I’ve been part of pretty much every defense there is in the NFL. Now it’s about mastering the calls and being able to do it effectively.”

Inquirer Eagles beat reporters EJ Smith and Josh Tolentino preview the team’s Week 11 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Watch at Inquirer.com/EaglesGameday