Eagles sign OL Menkin; release Lindley

The Eagles signed offensive lineman Nathan Menkin after he was released by the Texans on Friday, the team announced Saturday.

The 6-foot-4, 296-pound Menkin is listed as a tackle and a guard. Houston signed Menkin as an undrafted rookie free agent. He played college football at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas.

Menkin was an AFCA All-American tackle as a senior.

The Eagles now have nine offensive linemen on their roster. They had nine originally, but released guard Julian Vandervelde Friday night after they traded for safety David Sims, who came from the Browns. Vandervelde was a candidate to return to the Eagles practice squad, but the Buccaneers picked up the Eagles' 2011 fifth-round draft pick on Saturday.

The Eagles have already brought back several players to their practice squad that they released on Friday. Wide receiver Marvin McNutt, linebacker Ryan Rau, tight end Chase Ford and fullback Emil Igwenagu are the first four. There could be others.

The Eagles signed center Chase Beeler to their practice squad. Beeler spent all of last season on the 49ers' practice squad, but was released by San Francisco on Friday. The Eagles still have three more spots on their practice squad to fill.

Brett Brackett, who the Eagles released on Friday, was also a practice squad candidate. But the tight end confirmed via text message that he signed with the Jaguars. The Raiders claimed linebacker Keenan Clayton, a 2010 fourth round pick of the Eagles, a day after he was released.

The make room for Menkin on the 53-man roster the Eagles released Trevard Lindley. The cornerback surprised many by making the squad, but it did not last for very long. Last year, Lindley survived final cut down day, but he was waived a few days later when the Eagles re-signed cornerback Joselio Hanson.

Lindley spent all of 2011 on the street, but he impressed coaches with his play during training camp and the preseason.