Colts LB Jerrell Freeman signs restricted free agent tender

After not showing up for the start of voluntary offseason workouts last week, linebacker Jerrell Freeman signed his restricted free agent tender with the Indianapolis Colts, the team announced Monday.

Freeman signed the $2.35 million after initially hoping another team would extend to him an offer sheet, but the Colts' tender would have required any team that signed Freeman to send Indianapolis a second-round pick as compensation.

The deadline for negotiation with restricted free agents passed on Friday.

Freeman, 28, led the Colts in tackles in 2012 and 2013 before he was limited to 12 games last season by a hamstring injury. He still recorded 95 tackles with 1.5 sacks, six passes defended and one forced fumble.

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Freeman signed with the Colts in January 2012 after three years in the Canadian Football League, earning All-Star honors in 2011.

Freeman was the 2007 Division III Defensive Player of the Year while playing college football at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas before going undrafted in 2008. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

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Freeman signed with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in March 2009 before signing with the Colts in January 2012.