Nakobe Dean Injury History & Analysis

Eagles LB Nakobe Dean left Sunday's win over the Packers with a left knee injury. NFL Network reports that it's a torn patellar tendon, which not only ends Dean's season but will challenge his readiness for 2025.

The Eagles on Friday announced these defensive starters as doubtful for "coach's decision": LB Zack Baun, DT Jalen Carter, LB Nakobe Dean, and CB Darius Slay. That's an obvious signal those players won't play at all Sunday against the Giants. We likely won't know about the rest of the starters until Sunday. Avoiding Philly defenders in your Week 18 IDP lineups as much as possible seems like a good idea.

Eagles LB Devin White will not travel with the team for Friday's game against the Packers in Brazil. That marked a downgrade in his status after Philly listed White as a limited participant Tuesday. White's inactive status should leave Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun as the LB starters against Green Bay.

The Eagles started Devin White and Zack Baun as their off-ball LBs in Friday night's preseason opener against the Ravens. That's especially noteworthy because LB Nakobe Dean entered the game after them. That seems a pretty clear signal Dean isn't close to retaining his starting job from last year. White and Baun both joined Philly as free agents this offseason. Baun joined the Saints as a third-round pick back in 2020 but never found his way into the lineup. He reached a 50% snap share just three times across four seasons in New Orleans.