Eagles LB Nakobe Dean is expected to miss "multiple weeks" with the right foot injury that knocked him out of Sunday's win over the Patriots, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler each call Dean a candidate for short-term IR, which would cost the second-year LB at least four games. If Philly doesn't place Dean on IR this week, he might be back sooner. Zach Cunningham led LB playing time for the Eagles in Week 1, but LB Christian Elliss took over the green helmet dot and play-calling duties in relief of Dean. We'll have to see who stays on the field more between them while Dean is out. Both look like low-level IDP options against the Vikings and Buccaneers the next two weeks. Dean is OK to drop in most IDP leagues. But you can consider stashing him -- at least for now -- in deeper formats.
Eagles LB Nakobe Dean left with a foot injury in the second half of Sunday's game at New England. He's questionable to return. Christian Elliss took over play-calling duties in Dean's absence. That role would make Elliss worth a look in deeper IDP leagues if Dean's injury proves serious.
Eagles Edge Haason Reddick is having surgery to address a thumb injury he sustained in Monday's practice. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says, "This is all so that he is ready for the start of the season." Perhaps Reddick opens the year at a little less than full strength. But it sounds like he should be ready for the opener. We've nudged Reddick down the IDP rankings but still like him in DL1 territory.
The Eagles took Edge Nolan Smith in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Smith opened eyes with tremendous testing at the Scouting Combine. He delivered a 4.39-second 40 time, third fastest ever among edge players. Smith also posted a 95th-percentile broad jump and 98th-percentile vertical. But he’s also tiny for the position: 2nd-percentile weight and 15th-percentile height. More importantly, we don’t love Smith’s college production. He tallied just 15.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks total over the past two years. Smith did lose seven games to injury in his senior season, when he was on track for bigger numbers. We'll see how soon he can work into a prominent role in a loaded front seven. See where Smith sat in our pre-draft IDP rookie rankings.
The Eagles traded up one spot to select DT Jalen Carter ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter has been widely viewed as one of the top talents in the class but carried some off-field questions. Philadelphia clearly isn't worried on that front. Already having former teammate DT Jordan Davis on the roster can't hurt. Carter didn't put up big numbers for the Bulldogs. But Pro Football Focus graded him elite as a pass rusher each of the past two years. Don't be surprised if he turns into a solid-to-good fantasy producer for DT-required IDP leagues.
The 49ers have agreed to a four-year deal with DT Javon Hargrave. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that it's worth $84 million overall, with $40 million of that guaranteed at signing. Hargrave delivered a career-high 11 sacks in 2022, his third season with the Eagles after arriving as a free agent. He racked up 34 QB hits over the past two years after topping out at 8 over his first five seasons. Hargrave's arrival could challenge the role of fourth-year DT Javon Kinlaw. The former first-round pick played in just 10 total games over the past two seasons because of injuries. Arik Armstead remains as well. Hargrave played 64.4% and 68.4% of the snaps over the past two years, so there's room for a three-man rotation. Hargrave should be the first (and maybe only in most cases) among the three to go in 2023 IDP drafts.
The Bears have agreed to a three-year deal with LB T.J. Edwards, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The length of the deal and timing -- right at the start of "legal tampering" -- points to Edwards taking a starting role in Chicago. The Bears have 2022 starter Nicholas Morrow hitting free agency, so there's room for 2022 rookie Jack Sanborn to remain in the starting lineup with Edwards. We'll see, of course, how the rest of free agency and the NFL Draft play out. The deal solidifies Edwards' short-term dynasty outlook, giving him a bump up our dynasty rankings. We'd hang on to Sanborn for now as well. He proved quite productive across five full outings after Roquan Smith left, before an ankle injury cost Sanborn the final three games.
Eagles EDGE Josh Sweat went to the hospital after leaving Sunday's loss to the Saints on a stretcher with a neck injury. He was treated and released by the end of the night, though. He said afterward via Twitter that he expects to return this season. HC Nick Sirianni didn't offer details at his Monday press conference, saying the team is taking it day-by-day with Sweat's injury. We wouldn't bet on him making it back for the Week 18 game against the Giants, which Philly still needs to land the top playoff seed and a Round 1 bye.
Eagles EDGE Josh Sweat suffered a scary head/neck injury in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game against the Saints. Trainers strapped him to a board and took him off the field on a cart. Sweat did slightly raise a thumb up before reaching the tunnel. We'll watch for updates on his condition. He's obviously out for the rest of Week 17.
Eagles S C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a lacerated kidney in Sunday night's win over the Packers and is out indefinitely, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. It's reportedly not expected to end Gardner-Johnson's season, but we'd bet on at least multiple missed games. That makes Gardner-Johnson OK to drop for a replacement in many IDP leagues. You can stash him in deeper formats, though.
Eagles S C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a rib injury in the 1st quarter of Sunday night's game against the Packers and is questionable to return.
The Eagles have signed former Buccaneers DT Ndamukong Suh to a 1-year deal. The move comes just days after Philly allowed Washington's rushing offense to dominate time of possession in the team's 1st loss of the season. We'll see how much Suh actually helps that area, though. According to ESPN's Seth Walker, Suh ranked 69th among 70 DTs in run-stop win rate last season.
The Bears have traded EDGE Robert Quinn to the Eagles for a 4th-round pick. Quinn hasn't been doing much as a pass-rusher so far this year. He has just 1 sack and 3 QB hits and sits tied for just 53rd in total pressures among edge players, according to Pro Football Focus. He finished last year tied for 29th in that category, though. Quinn clearly heads to a better situation than the one he's leaving. we still wouldn't bet on big IDP production, but he can only help an already tough defense. Al-Quadin Muhammad, Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson lead the remaining edge crew in Chicago.
Eagles CB Avonte Maddox (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. That will be good news for WR Rondale Moore, if he's back to running primarily out of the slot this Sunday. Eagles outside CB Darius Slay, meanwhile, carries no injury designation into the game after leaving Week 4 early with a forearm issue.
The Eagles have ruled CB Avonte Maddox (ankle) out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars. Maddox injured an ankle in Thursday's practice and then missed Friday's workout. His absence improves the matchup for Jacksonville slot WR Christian Kirk.
The Saints are trading DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles for a 5th-round pick in 2023 and a 6th-rounder in 2024. On the same day, Philly released starting S Anthony Harris. That points to Gardner-Johnson -- who played a lot of slot CB in New Orleans -- lining up next to Marcus Epps as a safety in the Philadelphia defense. CGJ immediately gains IDP value as likely a full-time player for his new team. He was near that level with the Saints but figures to get a slight boost. Gardner-Johnson also might carry a CB designation in leagues that split DBs by position, which makes him worth particular attention there.
Eagles insider Adam Caplan said this week that according to "multiple sources" and "my own eyes," LB Kyzir White was the best player on the field in joint practices with the Browns. White signed a 1-year deal in free agency with Philly, looks poised to start and appears to be the strongest candidate to lead the group in snaps. Rookie Nakobe Dean, meanwhile, remains behind at least T.J. Edwards. There's certainly room for Dean to climb the depth chart this season, but we'd pass on him in redraft outside of deep IDP leagues.
The Eagles have been running Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards as the top LBs with the 1st defense in training camp. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that rookie Nakobe Dean worked in for some 1st-team snaps. The team is also reportedly experimenting with S K'Von Wallace taking some sub-package snaps. We'd bet the Eagles will continue using the preseason to settle out their defensive lineup. White looks like the best current bet to see full playing time among LBs. Dean's quick progression up the depth chart at Georgia -- along with his physical ability -- makes him a player worth betting on. Edwards would carry some IDP value if he hits the regular season as the #2 LB and appears headed for near-full playing time. We'll continue watching how the situation develops.
The Eagles have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with CB James Bradberry, according to multiple reports. The Giants recently released the veteran corner primarily for cap savings after being unable to work out a trade. Bradberry will start opposite Darius Slay in an Eagles defense with significant fantasy upside. He has been just OK to this point as an IDP factor but will be worth a look in leagues that require corners.
Former Georgia LB Nakobe Dean came off the board in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. Dean totaled just 71 and 72 total tackles over the past 2 seasons. He exploded in the big-play categories on last season’s national-champion defense, though, tallying 10.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 INTs and 5 passes defensed. Dean checks in small for a LB, at 5’11, 229. But he brings the movement skills and coverage upside that most defenses are looking for these days. Dean might have slipped for injury issues. He lands in a Philadelphia defense with immediate opportunity available, and Dean has been lauded for how quickly he can learn the playbook.
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