By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly editor
Haloti Ngata was rumored to join the Eagles roster at the start of the league's new year earlier today at 4:00 p.m.
When the Eagles formally announced their trades and signings Ngata's name was absent, however.
Speculation began to mount as time passed and there was still no announcement on Ngata, and some wondered if the Eagles had another Frank Gore situation on their hands, where the players eloped with another suitor before making the intended contract with the Eagles final.
According to John McMullen of 97.3 ESPN, the only reason that Ngata's signing has not been made official is because the team is waiting to get him into the facility to complete his physical, which is scheduled for tomorrow at the NovaCare Complex:
Haloti Ngata will be taking his physical tomorrow morning. That’s the holdup with the official announcement of his signing. #FlyEaglesFly
— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) March 14, 2018
The 34-year old Ngata is still one of the league's best run stoppers and he is expected to joint the join the top rated run defense from a season ago. Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia shared how much a difference the 12-year veteran makes against the run:
With Haloti Ngata (five games) in 2017, the Lions gave up an average of 74.6 rushing yards per game.
In the 11 games without him, they gave up 129.7 on the ground.
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) March 13, 2018
Ngata is a five-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012.