Signing free agent defensive lineman Marlon Favorite adds some depth at the position for the Washington Redskins. Teams in the NFC East are going to need all the help they can get on the defensive interior, as all squads have been known to have solid running games in the past.
On Thursday, the Redskins announced the signing of Favorite, who is brought it to replace Chris Neild. Favorite went undrafted in 2009 and has spent time on practice squads for various teams. He's played for the Colts and Patriots among others.
Neild tore his ACL in practice on Monday, which obviously opened the door for Favorite. Read the official team press release here:
The Washington Redskins announced today that they have signed free agent defensive lineman Marlon Favorite. The signing fills the roster spot vacated by NT Chris Neild, who was waived-injured earlier in the week. Neild and WR Darius Hanks both cleared waivers and have now reverted to the team's Reserve/Injured list.
Favorite (6-1, 317) was originally signed as a college free agent by the Carolina Panthers on May 1, 2009. He spent portions of the 2009 season on the practice squads of the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. He spent part of the 2010 offseason with the Buffalo Bills before signing with the Indianapolis Colts on May 18, 2010. He was released by the Colts on Sept. 4 of that year. He was added to the New England Patriots' practice squad on Jan. 5, 2011, before being released by the Patriots on Aug. 5. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles three days later and was released by the Eagles on Aug. 26. He signed with the St. Louis Rams on Aug. 31 until being released on Sept. 3.
Favorite, 26, played collegiately at LSU, where he appeared in 40 games with 17 starts, totaling 78 tackles, 8.5 stops for a loss and 4.0 sacks. He was a member of the LSU squad that won the BCS National Championship following the 2007 season.
He attended West Jefferson H.S. in Harvey, La., earning First-Team All-American honors from USA Today and ranking as the nation's No. 1 defensive tackle prospect by ESPN.com during his senior season. He was born on June 22, 1986.
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