The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t necessarily been winning pretty this season, but they have still been winning. Alongside the Buffalo Bills, the Eagles are one of two undefeated teams left standing in the league, and as if they weren’t already dangerous enough, it sounds like they could be getting a boost on the defensive side of the ball in the near future.
For the most part, Philadelphia has managed to stay fairly healthy to begin the new season. However, they have one guy, linebacker Nakobe Dean, who is still recovering from an injury he suffered late last year. And if the Eagles‘ latest move is anything to go by, it looks like he is closing on a return to action for his team.
Eagles Open Nakobe Dean’s Practice Window
If there’s one spot the Eagles have been hit hard at with injuries, it’s linebacker. In addition to Dean’s aforementioned injury, Nolan Smith Jr. recently hit injured reserve with a triceps injury, and while he’s expected to return this season, Ogbo Okoronkwo is set to miss the rest of the season with a triceps injury of his own.
Dean tore his patellar tendon in Philly’s wild card victory over the Green Bay Packers last year, and he’s been working his way back to full health since then. Prior to that, Dean enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Eagles, racking up 128 tackles, three sacks, one interception, four pass deflections, and one fumble forced in 15 games of action.
Philadelphia re-signed Zack Baun and selected Jihaad Campbell with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so Dean may not immediately reassume his full-time starting role when he returns. Having too many talented players is an issue every team would love to have, and with Dean’s practice window opening up on Wednesday, it may be one Philly has on its plate in the near future.
We have opened Nakobe Dean’s practice window and signed Antwuan Powell-Ryland to the practice squad,” the Eagles announced in a post on X.
Eagles’ Defense Set to Get Even More Scary with Nakobe Dean’s Injury Return
GettyPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean.
At their best last season, Dean and Baun were one of the most talented middle linebacker duos in the league. Campbell is still young and could use some time developing behind the scenes, so getting Dean back on the field could help give Philadelphia its preferred combo at the center of its defense. Once he gets back, he will certainly have to shake off some of the rust, but the team will surely be hoping Dean can hit the heights he reached last season.
It won’t be a couple of weeks until Dean is back on the field, as he still has some hurdles he has to clear before he gets added back to the active roster. The fact that he’s back at practice, though, is quite encouraging, and his status will be worth monitoring over the coming weeks. He won’t play in Week 5 when the Eagles take on the Denver Broncos, but his return appears to be right around the corner for Philly.
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