Eagles LB Nakobe Dean to miss 'multiple weeks' after suffering foot injury in Week 1
NFL insider Ian Rapoport delivered promising news on Monday after the Philadelphia Eagles lost linebacker Nakobe Dean during their Week 1 win over the Patriots. According to Rapoport, Dean will miss “multiple weeks” due to the foot injury he suffered, however, it will not require surgery and he will be back this season.
“Eagles LB Nakobe Dean is expected to miss multiple weeks with a foot injury suffered yesterday in their win over the #Patriots, sources say,” Rapoport shared. “It was relatively decent news considering, as no surgery is required — he should be back with plenty of time this season.”
Philadelphia fans waited all of last season for Dean to finally get his chance to shine in the Eagles’ defense. He logged just 13 tackles and one for loss last season.
Prior to his exit on Sunday afternoon, Dean posted seven tackles, including half a tackle for loss. The Eagles could reveal how long they expect him to be out due to injury if they move him to IR. If they do, he’ll have to miss at least four games.
Philadelphia narrowly escaped with a win on Sunday, 25-20, after stopping Mac Jones and the Patriots’ final two-minute drive dead.
Eagles teammates hoping for big things from Dean
Dean was a third-round pick out of Georgia last season and received the “steal” label due to some injury concerns. Without those concerns, he likely would have gone in the first round like Georgia teammate Jordan Davis, who enters Year 2 with the Eagles.
“Same old Kobe. That’s the Kobe I know,” Davis said. “Just seeing him take over the huddle and commanding the defense, he’s like the QB of the defense. Everything he say, go. It’s nothing new to me.
“It’s just good to see him, we’re back out there getting a good feel for each other. And it’s the time to do it. This is where the team really starts to gel and connect together and then that’s when it’ll carry us on into the season.”
Dean and Davis were joined by Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Kelee Ringo from this year’s draft class. It’s an entire Georgia reunion in Philadelphia.
They all should make their mark on defense this season. But it’s Dean who went from backup linebacker and special teamer to basically a commander on defense.
“I’m excited for him,” Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat said. “He’s already taken control from the calls and just knowing everything and getting everybody on the same page. You can tell he’s done it before, you can tell he’s a leader. He’s going to do big things and he’s going to be big for us. But he knows he’s ready.”
The Eagles now move on to Week 2, with or without Dean. Philadelphia will host the Minnesota Vikings for Thursday Night Football action at 8:15 p.m. ET.
On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this article.