Gilman grad, former Ravens LB Copeland signs with Jets
The New York Jets signed former Ravens linebacker Brandon Copeland on Monday.
Copeland, a Gilman graduate, missed last season with the Detroit Lions after tearing a pectoral muscle during the preseason. He had 30 tackles and one forced fumble in 32 games the previous two seasons with the Lions.
The 26-year-old Copeland is expected to serve as a backup on defense and be a key part of the Jets’ special teams unit.
“Too many different levels of excitement to put into words,” Copeland told the Jets’ website. “Coming off of injured reserve, having to sit every Sunday, Monday and Thursday and watching other people play, I’m first and foremost excited to get back to the game that I love.”
He signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Penn in 2013 and spent time later that season on the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad. After signing with Orlando of the Arena Football League in 2015, Copeland impressed Detroit after participating in the NFL Veterans Combine. His grandfather, Roy Hilton, played for the Baltimore Colts against the Jets in the Super Bowl in 1969.
“He played defensive end against Joe Namath and all those guys,” Copeland said. “I know he’s going to be very proud of his grandson and now my job is to continue to make him proud.”
The Jets also re-signed defensive lineman Xavier Cooper, who had 16 tackles and one sack in eight games last season. Colts add TE Ebron: The Indianapolis Colts finally made a splash in free agency Monday by signing tight end Eric Ebron.
Terms of the deal were not immediately available.
Ebron was released last week by the Detroit Lions, the team that made him a first-round pick in 2014.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Ebron gives quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett another receiving threat. He will be paired with Jack Doyle, who appeared in his first Pro Bowl last season.
Ebron had 186 receptions, 2,070 yards and11touchdowns in four seasons with the Lions and developed a reputation for dropping passes. But he’s just 24 years old.
Indy’s move comes on the heels of Saturday’s trade that gave the Jets the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Indy got the Jets’ pick at No. 6, two second-round picks this year and another second-rounder in 2019.