The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for another championship run, but their defense just took a significant hit. Linebacker Nakobe Dean, a rising star who was carving out a pivotal role in Vic Fangio’s elite defensive scheme, will start the 2025 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list due to a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. The injury, sustained during the Eagles’ playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers in January, means Dean will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
Dean’s absence is a gut punch for Eagles fans. The former Georgia standout was enjoying a breakout 2024 season, racking up an impressive 128 tackles, three sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He was thriving as a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s top-ranked defense, showcasing the speed, instincts, and physicality that made him a third-round steal in the 2022 NFL Draft. Through his first three seasons, Dean has amassed 171 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and four pass breakups—numbers that highlight his value to the team.
With Dean sidelined, rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell will need to step up after a standout preseason that turned heads across the NFL. Campbell’s emergence is a silver lining, but replacing Dean’s production and leadership won’t be easy.
Dean isn’t sitting idly by during his recovery. In an unconventional approach to rehab, the 24-year-old has turned to ballet to aid his healing process. “There’s way more flexibility, of course. Way more mobility,” Dean told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “It’s definitely something that’s helping with my rehab. You just feel a change immediately. After you stretch, you’re not as tight or as sore.”
This unique method underscores Dean’s determination to return stronger than ever. With the final year of his $5.2 million rookie contract looming, Dean has more than just a Super Bowl repeat on his mind—he’s playing for his future in the NFL.
While Dean’s injury is a setback, Eagles GM Howie Roseman has also faced scrutiny for a rare misstep in roster management. Roseman, the architect behind Philadelphia’s two Super Bowl titles and a roster stacked with stars like Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Carter, and linebacker Zack Baun, swung big last offseason by trading safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans for offensive guard Kenyon Green. The move, however, backfired.
Green failed to secure a starting role, unable to displace Mekhi Becton, who left in free agency. On Tuesday, the Eagles released Green as part of their final roster cuts ahead of Week 1. Roseman addressed the decision candidly: “In terms of Kenyon, obviously he missed a bunch of time here, which hurt him. Playing offensive line for the Philadelphia Eagles, understanding how we want our linemen to play with the fundamentals that [Offensive Line Coach] Jeff Stoutland is teaching, takes time, and he ran out of time here.”
Roseman didn’t shy away from the trade’s failure, admitting, “We didn’t want to lose Chauncey [Gardner-Johnson]. That was just the nature of the business. Not everything here is going to work out perfectly. I’m the first one to admit we will make some mistakes, but I promise you we’re going to keep shooting.”
The Eagles’ offensive line now faces questions, especially with Landon Dickerson nursing an injury. Green’s departure and Becton’s exit leave Philadelphia thin at a critical position, putting pressure on the unit to hold up against fierce competition. Meanwhile, Dean’s absence leaves a void in the heart of the defense, testing the depth of a team built to contend for a third Super Bowl ring.