It's homecoming time for linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.
A little more than a year after being traded by the Buffalo Bills to the Indianapolis Colts for Jerry Hughes, Sheppard will return to Ralph Wilson Stadium this weekend, only in a Miami Dolphins uniform. The 26-year-old was acquired by the team Monday following the news that Dannell Ellerbe was placed on Injured Reserve and will miss the remainder of the season.
"He's a big, physical linebacker," defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said of Sheppard via the Sun Sentinel. "He's been effective in the league playing against the run and so we're excited about having a good athlete that has size and strength."
Sheppard took 428 regular season snaps with the Colts last season, tallying 47 tackles and a sack, according to ProFootballFocus. He was cut by Indy, however, as the team made its final roster moves to get down to 53 players.
Sheppard's injury-free history has to be a breath of fresh air to Miami, though. He joins a starting crew that's ailing at the moment and could potentially see two reserve players start on Sunday, as middle linebacker Koa Misi is dealing with an ankle injury and Phillip Wheeler an ailing thumb.
Coyle refused to comment on the injured players, saying only that he's ready to prep the healthy players for a game against a 1-0 divisional rival.
"You worry about the guys that are going to be playing, getting them in the right spots, getting them prepared to play, not about the guys that aren't."
