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Eagles LB Stephen Tulloch prepares for return to Detroit

Each week, Stephen Tulloch receives text messages from players in Detroit. The Lions' three starting linebackers – DeAndre Levy, Tahir Whitehead, and Kyle Van Noy – all played with Tulloch and shared a meeting room with him in previous years.

"I've seen those guys grow up,"  Tulloch said.

Tulloch, now an Eagles linebacker, returns to Detroit this week. There will be much attention paid during the next few days to Eagles defensive coordinator and former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, but Tulloch also returns to the city where he played five NFL seasons and exerted considerable philanthropic efforts.

"To be honest with you, it's the business," Tulloch said. "I've been in the NFL for 11 years now, and it was the first time I was let go. Last year in a contract there. But I understand it's a business – new front office – and I'm very thankful to the organization for giving me a chance to come in there in 2011, lay my fingerprints on Detroit community. I'm looking forward to getting back there and interacting with the fans."

Tulloch is a reserve linebacker with the Eagles whose understanding of Schwartz's scheme after playing for Schwartz in Detroit and Tennessee has enhanced his value with the team. Schwartz has already mixed Tulloch in on defense to spell Jordan Hicks at middle linebacker, and Tulloch will continue to have a role on defense.

But a return to Detroit puts Tulloch in the news, and makes a Week 5 game even more personal.

"Going back to Detroit, you're going to feel it," Tulloch said. "When you go into the stadium on the other side and you see your players and your guys. But it's part of the business. I've fortunate enough to play a long time in this league to get to experience it. a lot of guys can't get to this point in their career."