Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jason Babin, the team’s sack leader, was released after the team’s seventh consecutive loss dropped them to 3-8 this season.

Babin, 32, was a Pro Bowl player last season after recording 18 sacks. He had 5.5 in 2012 and was cut today to give the Eagles “an opportunity to give more playing time to some of the younger guys in the defensive line rotation,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement posted on the National Football League team’s website.

Babin signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the Eagles in July 2011, according to ESPN.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jay Beberman at jbeberman@bloomberg.net