EDMONTON — The Edmonton Eskimos have extended the contract of pending free agent defensive end Marcus Howard, the team announced Thursday.

In 11 games last season (eight starts), Howard recorded 10 defensive tackles and was tied for second on the team with seven quarterback sacks.

Now entering his seventh season, Howard has spent his entire career in Edmonton. In 63 career games, he has amassed 76 defensive tackles, five forced fumbles and 36 quarterback sacks.

The six-foot-one, 245-pound former Sugar Bowl MVP originally signed as a free agent in August 2011, re-signing in January 2013 and December 2014.

Howard is the sixth pending free agent the Eskimos have returned, including Justin Sorensen, Brandyn Thompson, Tony Washington, Sean Whyte and Marcell Young.