Dean is expected to serve as a starter at inside linebacker in the Eagles' season opener Friday versus the Packers in Brazil, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Though Devin White signed a one-year deal with the Eagles over the offseason and is an experienced option at MIKE linebacker spot, McLane relays that Dean beat White out for the starting role during the preseason. White will end up missing the Eagles' season opener Friday due to an ankle injury, so Dean will have the opportunity to build security as a starter with a strong showing versus the Packers. A 2022 third-round pick, Dean was a touted prospect coming out of Georgia, but he was limited largely to a special-teams role as a rookie, and foot issues limited to just five appearances for the Eagles in 2023.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Nearing return
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Dean (foot) said Thursday that he's been out of his walking boot since February, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.
Dean has been dealing with a foot injury that forced him to miss Philadelphia's final seven games last season, but it sounds like he could be returning to the field soon. Dean logged 30 total tackles, including 0.5 sacks throughout his five appearances in 2023, and the 23-year-old is expected to remain one of the Philadelphia's top inside linebackers once his recovery from Lisfranc surgery is complete.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Still in boot, could return by OTAs
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Dean said Wednesday that he still has three weeks left of wearing a walking boot after having Lisfranc surgery on his left foot, and it remains to be seen whether he will be healthy in time to participate in OTAs, Brooks Kubena of The Athletic reports.
Dean didn't play after Week 10 due to the injury. Even if he isn't available by OTAs, the 2022 third-round draft pick should be healthy well before the start of the 2024 season. After playing primarily on special teams as a rookie, Dean started at linebacker in four of his five appearances in 2023.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Likely to be placed on IR
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Dean (foot) was diagnosed Wednesday with a Lisfranc sprain and likely will be placed on injured reserve, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The Eagles have no reason to rush placing Dean on IR heading into a bye week, as such a transaction would rule the linebacker out for at least the next four games. He's seeing a foot specialist to determine a course of action, with the most likely outcome being a stint on IR that would rule him out through Week 14. The second-year played has played 30 or more snaps in four of his five appearances this season, and he previously missed Weeks 2 through 5 with a foot injury. Nicholas Morrow and Zach Cunningham are left as Philadelphia's top off-ball linebackers.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Limited in practice return
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Dean (foot) returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant.
The Eagles designated Dean to return from injured reserve Tuesday, opening a 21-day window in which he can practice without being activated to the roster. He seemingly expects to be active much sooner than that, telling reporters Wednesday that he's almost back to 100 percent strength, Josh Tolentino of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He opened the season as an intriguing IDP in a three-down role and could still make good on that promise at some point in October -- possibly as soon as this Sunday against the Jets.
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Eagles' Nakobe Dean: Questionable to return
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Dean is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Patriots due to a foot injury, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Dean had a solid performance to begin Sunday's matchup, tallying seven tackles (four solo). However, it's unclear whether he'll be available for the final few minutes of the matchup. If he remains sidelined down the stretch, Christian Elliss and Nolan Smith are candidates to see increased playing time.
