Reacting to the loss of starting weakside linebacker Mike Caldwell earlier in the day, the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday evening signed unrestricted free agent Shawn Barber to a one-year contract to quickly fill the vacancy.

Barber, 27, possesses the kind of athleticism and quickness defensive coordinator Jim Johnson stresses on his unit, but it coming off a serious knee injury that limited him to just three games during the 2001 season. His rehabilitation is said to have gone well, though, and Barber should claim the spot occupied by Caldwell last season.

Caldwell agreed to a four-year, $4.7 million contract with the Chicago Bears on Friday morning.

The one-year contract for Barber is worth $1.5 million and is evenly split, with a signing bonus of base salary of $750,000 each. The deal will provide Barber, who likely would have signed a long-term deal if not for the knee injury, the opportunity to be a free agent again next spring.

"This gives me a chance to prove myself again, to show people I'm healthy and productive, and to go back in the market at a still-young age," Barber said. "Plus I'll be playing on a really great defense and with a team that is a legitimate Super Bowl contender."

The former University of Richmond standout was definitely regarded as a linebacker on the rise before sustaining the anterior cruciate ligament injury in the third game last year. He underwent surgery and was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter. Even though the Redskins signed veteran Jessie Armstead two weeks ago, they still wanted Barber back, but he drew interest from at least a half-dozen other teams and made several visits.

A very fluid weakside linebacker used more in pass coverage than to blitz, Barber was selected by the Redskins in the fourth round of the 1998 draft.

He became a starter in his second season and combined for 30 starts in 1999-2000. For his career, he has appeared in 49 games and started 34 contests. Barber has 208 tackles, including a career-best 101 stops in 1999. He also has three sacks, four interceptions and 10 passes defensed.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.