The Eagles released LB Devin White before the Week 6 game against the Browns

The Eagles released Devin White on Tuesday, ending the inside linebacker's defunct tenure with the team.

White, 26, signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Eagles in the offseason to compete for a starting role. Throughout training camp, White took over as the majority of the first team players alongside Zack Baun in the middle of the field. Nakobe Dean ultimately won the starting middle linebacker job, leaving White in a reserve role.

However, he was inactive in each of the Eagles' four games early in the season. White, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of LSU, did not travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the season opener against the Green Bay Packers because of an ankle injury. He was a healthy substitute for the next two games and was ruled out against the Buccaneers for what the team described as a “personal” matter.

White did not play on special teams, which further contributed to his inactivity on game days. Eagles deep linebackers Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Ben VanSumeren and Oren Burks are on special teams and played in all four games.

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Although White served in a reserve role, Nick Sirianni said last month that the linebacker was a “great teammate and did everything that was asked of him.” The fourth-year head coach stressed that the Eagles would need him at some point during a “long football season” when injuries typically occur.

“Everything isn’t always going to be in your favor,” White said Sept. 18. “But it's how you react, how you handle yourself, and that's the only thing I can control. “I can't put myself in the game, but I can control my attitude and the amount of training I put into it. Just my bragging rights in the building.”

Apparently the team changed course for White. The Eagles have reached an agreement with the linebacker so they can make the move now. The team granted White release before the November 5 trade deadline, allowing him to be exempt from waivers and free to sign with any team. White, in turn, agreed to agreements with the Eagles that could provide them with potential financial savings.

White was one of the defensive free agents Howie Roseman added in the offseason with the intent of improving a unit that ranked 30th in points against and 26th in yards against in 2023 in a short window, offset by Bryce Huff's lack Performance as a pass rusher to Baun's promotion to starting inside linebacker after mostly playing on the sidelines last season with the New Orleans Saints.

” READ MORE: Saquon Barkley is paying dividends for the Eagles. Were Howie Roseman's remaining offseason actions a success or failure?

Because White wasn't active on game days, he could never really provide support for Dean or Baun if they were out during a game. Trotter, the Eagles' fifth-round pick out of Clemson, appeared to be the primary backup at least in Week 4 against the Buccaneers. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, with the Eagles no longer in control of the game and most of their regular players out, he made his first three defensive shots of the season as a replacement for Baun.

Burks, who the Eagles also signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, is also a backup option at inside linebacker. He played primarily on special teams during his seven-year career. However, the 29-year-old Burks still played 963 total defensive snaps, one interception, two sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 176 tackles (six for losses).

” READ MORE: Saquon Barkley is paying dividends for the Eagles. Were Howie Roseman's remaining offseason actions a success or failure?