Agent: Levens returning to Eagles to replace injured Buckhalter
August 22, 2004
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Free agent running back Dorsey Levens will return to the Philadelphia Eagles and replace the injured Correll Buckhalter, Levens' agent said Sunday.
"It's an opportunity to play, and it's a situation where he knows the offense and has an opportunity to win a Super Bowl,'' agent Hadley Engelhard said.
Engelhard said Levens planned to leave for Philadelphia Sunday night to sign a contract.
The Eagles declined comment.
Buckhalter tore a tendon in his right knee in Friday's preseason win over Baltimore and will undergo season-ending surgery. Levens' return would mark the second time he was brought in to back up an injured Buckhalter.
Levens likely will back up third-year back Brian Westbrook, who, along with Buckhalter, shared time with veteran Duce Staley last season. Staley signed with Pittsburgh in the offseason.
Buckhalter and Staley combined for 1,005 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns and 515 yards receiving and three touchdowns last season.
The 34-year-old Levens spent his first eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Eagles in 2002 when Buckhalter was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Levens played in all 16 games in 2002, rushing for 411 yards on only 75 carries and one touchdown. He also caught 19 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Levens signed with the Giants as a free agent last year and saw his productivity decline. In 11 games, he managed only 197 yards on 68 carries -- an average of 2.9 yards -- but scored three touchdowns. He also caught five balls for 39 yards.
For his career, Levens has averaged 4.0 yards per carry, scored 32 touchdowns and compiled 4,545 yards rushing.
