Eagles Sign Ryan Mathews

3:52pm: The Eagles have officially announced the deal (via Twitter).

THURSDAY, 3:41pm: Despite the fact that the Eagles are adding DeMarco Murray, Mathews will finalize his deal and sign with the team, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). So the former Charger will join a Philadelphia backfield that will also feature Murray and Sproles.

WEDNESDAY, 1:01pm: Mathews and the Eagles have agreed to terms on a three-year, $11.5MM contract that features $5MM in guaranteed money, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

7:32am: Free agent running back Ryan Mathews is paying a visit to the Eagles today, and the team isn’t expected to let him leave Philadelphia without a deal, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Garafolo reports that the Eagles are expected to sign Mathews to a new contract today.

Considered an injury-prone player for the first three seasons of his career, Mathews finally stayed healthy and put it all together for the Chargers in 2013, rushing for a career-high 1,255 yards. He was unable to keep that run of good health going in 2014 though, playing just eight games for San Diego due to injuries. The former 12th overall pick can be one of the league’s best backs when he’s at 100%, so assuming they finalize an agreement with him, the Eagles will be banking on good health for Mathews in 2015.

Having traded away LeSean McCoy to the Bills, the Eagles thought they had found their replacement in former Niner Frank Gore, reportedly agreeing to terms with the veteran back over the weekend. However, Gore had second thoughts about the arrangement, and ultimately decided to head to the Colts instead, leaving Philadelphia on the market for a player to complement Darren Sproles and Chris Polk (if he returns) in the team’s backfield

The Eagles and top free agent running back DeMarco Murray had been rumored to have mutual interest, but if the club signs Mathews, it’s hard to imagine there being room for Murray as well.