Dean played six snaps on special teams in Thursday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Dean made his season debut after recovering from a torn left patellar tendon. The Eagles seemingly eased him into action, and he should eventually return to at least a partial role alongside fellow linebackers Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: All set for Week 6
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Dean (knee) is active for Thursday night's matchup with the Giants.
Dean will make his season debut after missing the first five games of the year while recovering from a torn left patellar tendon that he suffered in January. The linebacker recorded 128 total tackles (80 solo), including 3.0 sacks, while also adding an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries over 15 regular-season games last year.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Activated from PUP list Thursday
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Dean (knee) was activated from the reserve/PUP list Thursday.
Dean's activation makes him eligible to play Thursday night against the Giants, though he's still listed as questionable. A determination on his status will likely be made around 90 minutes prior to Thursday's 8:15 ET kickoff. He has yet to make his 2025 season debut after recording 128 tackles in a breakout 2024 regular season.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Could return Thursday
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Dean (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Thursday night's matchup against the Giants.
The Georgia product logged another full practice Wednesday but must still be activated to the Eagles' active roster in order to play Thursday night. If Dean is activated in time for the Week 6 divisional matchup, he's likely to serve as Philadelphia's top reserve inside linebacker, playing behind Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Estimated as full participant
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The Eagles listed Dean (knee) as a full participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report.
Dean is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn left patellar tendon that he suffered during the Eagles' 2024 postseason run. He has been estimated as a full practice participant for the Eagles' two walkthrough practices this week, but his participation in Wednesday's session will indicate his chances of making his 2025 debut against the Giants on Thursday.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Considered full participant Monday
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Dean (knee) was listed as a full participant on Monday's estimated injury report.
Dean has been slowly working his way back from a torn left patellar tendon that he suffered in the postseason, and he has now logged back-to-back full practices dating back to Friday's injury report. The linebacker will have two more chances to officially log another full practice before Thursday's matchup with the Giants.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Limited on Wednesday
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Dean (knee) was limited in Wednesday's practice.
Dean was designated for return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, opening his 21-day practice window. He said he feels he can "fully go" now after suffering a torn patellar tendon in the Eagles' wild-card playoff win back in January. However, Dean's role is unclear upon his return, considering the presence of Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell at linebacker for the Eagles.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Designated to return
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Dean (knee) was designated to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday.
The 2022 third-round pick out of Georgia has missed Philadelphia's opening four games this season due to a knee injury sustained in a wild-card win over the Packers in January. He now has 21 days to be added to the Eagles' active roster before reverting to the reserve/PUP list. It's unclear whether Dean will reclaim his starting spot once healthy, as rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell has impressed through his first four games as a pro.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Closing in on return
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Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday that Dean (knee) will return to practice "either this week or next," Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports.
Dean opened the season on the reserve/PUP list while continuing to recover from a torn left patellar tendon that he suffered during the Eagles' NFC wild-card win over the Packers in January. He's eligible to have his practice window open this week, and once that happens, the Eagles will have 21 days to reinstate Dean from the PUP list. The 2022 third-round pick is still viewed as a long shot to play in the Eagles' Week 5 clash against the Broncos on Sunday, but he could be available for Week 6 against the Giants on Oct. 9.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Not on field to start camp
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Dean (knee) was placed on the active/PUP list Wednesday, Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice reports.
Heading into his fourth NFL season, Dean is still recovering from the torn patellar tendon he suffered during Philadelphia's first-round playoff game against the Packers and is the only Eagle to start training camp on the active/PUP list. The 24-year-old had by far his most productive year last season, totaling 128 tackles and 3.0 sacks over 15 regular-season games. However, first-round pick Jihaad Campbell (shoulder) was active and practicing in limited fashion during the first day of training camp, recovering more quickly than expected from a torn labrum he had surgery for in March. With the starting linebackers undetermined, this news could give Campbell some helpful reps early as Dean watches from the sideline.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Not close to returning
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Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday that Dean (knee) "won't be back for awhile," Andrew DiCecco of InsideTheBirds.com reports.
Dean tore the patellar tendon in his left knee during the Eagles' wild-card win over the Packers back in January and is still working through a lengthy recovery process. With his absence likely to extend into the regular season, Philly used its first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell to pair with Zack Baun at inside linebacker, though Campbell is recovering from surgery of his own to repair a torn labrum.
Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during Sunday's 22-10 wild-card win over the Packers and will miss the remainder of the postseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dean sustained the injury in the second quarter while bringing down Packers tight end Tucker Kraft for a three-yard loss after a reception. A 2022 third-round draft pick, Dean primarily was a special-teams contributor and reserve linebacker over his first two seasons in the NFL before moving into a full-time starting role in 2024. He finished the regular season with a trio of sacks among his 128 tackles to go with an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 15 games. Oren Burks came on to replace Dean in Sunday's game and presumably will take over as a starter in the Eagles' divisional-round game against either the Vikings or Rams.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Full participant in walkthrough
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Dean (abdomen) was estimated as a full practice participant during Wednesday's walkthrough.
Dean was sidelined for the Eagles' Week 17 win over the Cowboys due to an abdominal injury. His full participation in Wednesday's walkthrough indicates that the 2022 third-round pick could be healthy enough to play in the Eagles' regular-season finale against the Giants on Sunday. However, he could be held out of the contest due to Philadelphia being locked in as the NFC's No. 2 seed for the playoffs.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Not playing Week 17
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Dean (abdomen) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.
Dean's absence became expected Friday when he was deemed doubtful to suit up. The third-year linebacker will miss his first game of the campaign despite being able to log a limited practice session both Thursday and Friday. Jeremiah Trotter or Oren Burks will likely start Sunday in Dean's stead.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Unlikely to play Week 17
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Dean (abdomen) is doubtful to suit up against the Cowboys on Sunday.
Dean logged his usual hefty snap count last Sunday against the Commanders and tied a season high with 12 tackles, but he appeared on Philadelphia's estimated injury report as a non-participant with an abdominal issue Wednesday. The third-year linebacker upgraded to limited sessions both Thursday and Friday, but it appears he'll nonetheless miss his first game of the campaign. Either Jeremiah Trotter or Oren Burks could be asked to start if Dean is indeed unable to play against Dallas.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Upgrades to LP on Thursday
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Dean (abdomen) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Dean was estimated as a non-participant Wednesday, though the Eagles didn't actually hold a practice that day. His LP status Thursday therefore represents an upgrade, but his likelihood of playing Sunday against Dallas remains in question. Dean has been a tackle machine of late, recording double-digit stops in each of his past four contests.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Leads Eagles in tackles again
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Dean finished this past Sunday's 27-13 win over the Steelers with 10 tackles (seven solo) and one forced fumble.
Dean has reached double-digit combined tackles six times, four of which have come over the past five regular-season games. He's now up to 116 tackles (74 solo), including 3.0 sacks, four pass defenses (including one interception), one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries across 14 games. The 2022 third-round pick will look to add to his total during Sunday's NFC East clash against the Commanders.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Leading tackler in win
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Dean recorded 12 tackles (nine solo) during Sunday's 22-16 win versus the Panthers.
Dean managed double-digit tackles for the second straight game in Week 14, and he has now posted 10-plus tackles in five contests this season. He also eclipsed 100 tackles on the year with Sunday's performance. He'll be looking to keep adding to his career-best campaign in Week 15 versus the Steelers.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: All over field in win
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Dean recorded eight tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks and an additional tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery in Sunday's 37-20 win over the Rams.
The starting inside linebacker dealt with a groin injury during the practice week leading up to the game but was a full participant by Thursday's session. Dean, a 2022 third-round pick, continued his career-best season with his big night. He now has 84 tackles (53 solo), including 3.0 sacks, four pass breakups, including an interception, and two fumble recoveries in 2024.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Still working through groin injury
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Dean (groin) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice report.
Dean played through a groin injury during the Eagles' Week 11 win over the Commanders, during which he tallied 10 tackles (eight solo) and a pass defensed. The 2022 third-round pick will have two more chances this week to increase his practice participation ahead of Sunday's game against the Rams.
