Nakobe Dean injury update: Eagles LB likely out for remainder of playoffs with 'significant knee injury'

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean will reportedly be out for the remainder of the playoffs with a knee injury, per NFL Network. Dean was carted off during Sunday’s Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers.

“Eagles LB Nakobe Dean, who was carted off during last night’s playoff win, is feared to have suffered a significant knee injury that would knock him for the playoffs, sources tell me and Mike Garafolo,” Ian Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “He’ll have an MRI this morning to deliver the full news. Dean emerged as a starter this season with 128 tackles, including 9 for a loss.”

If Dean is confirmed to be out for the remainder of the year, it’ll be a significant loss for the Eagles’ defense.

During the regular season, he had a career year in his third season out of Georgia. Emerging as the starting linebacker, Dean finally broke through after rookie struggles and an injury in 2023.

He had 128 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and four pass deflections.

Dean was a third round pick in 2022 by the Eagles, one of a few Georgia players that were picked by the Eagles. He was a CFP national champion with the Bulldogs in 2021, won the Butkus Award and was an unanimous All-American.

As a member of the Class of 2019, Dean was a five-star recruit out of Horn Lake (Miss.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 3 overall prospect in the state, the No. 5 linebacker in the class and the No. 30 overall prospect in the class.

Philadelphia is scheduled to host the winner of the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET in the NFC Divisional Round.