Jeremiah Trotter has officially returned to the Eagles, again.

This will be the veteran linebacker’s third go around in Philly and is a surprising twist in young season already chock full of incredible twists and surprises. It’s not surprising that Trotter wants to play again, as he has always had a hard time with the idea of hanging up the cleats, but more that the Eagles actually signed him. President Joe Banner, GM Tom Heckert, and coach Andy Reid are renowned for cutting ties with players who are on the verge of being past their prime (i.e. Brian Dawkins, Duce Staley, and Trotter).

“At some points, like last year, when I was sitting at home . . . I was like, ‘Should I give it up and start doing something else?’ Something just kept telling me to work out,” Trotter said.

The Eagles signed Trotter to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. He will wear his familiar No. 54.

Trotter underwent surgery in 2008 to cleanout his right knee, at his own expense, in hopes he could convince a team to sign him.

“I just trained, the whole [time] I was out,” he said. “I was able to get my body rest . . . I rehabbed and just stayed in shape. I changed my workout regimen, lost some weight, and did a lot of praying.”

He says that the Eagles told him his knees look better than they did two years ago.

By bringing Trotter in for a workout, it is clear that Reid and the Eagles’ coaching staff are not content with the defense’s current run-stopping capacity. After the loss of safety Brian Dawkins to the Denver Broncos this offseason and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley to a season ending injury suffered during training camp, the Eagles are looking for a veteran presence up the middle.

Both Trotter and the Eagles are hoping he can bring some of the intense and dominant play that made him a fan favorite the first two times around. In 103 games with the Eagles, Trotter has 536 tackles to go along with 11 sacks, seven interceptions, and seven forced fumbles. More importantly though, he is a fierce presence on the football field, something the Eagles are lacking after the departure of Dawkins.

“It’s going to be even more exciting when I can make that first big play and drop the ax,” he said.

Hopefully for the Eagles, there will be a lot of ax dropping.