PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 05: Nakobe Dean #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second quarter in the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on November 05, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles looked dominant in a 22-10 win over the 7-seed Green Bay Packers on Sunday, punching their ticket to the Divisional Round. But the victory cost a vital piece of its heavy-hitting defense.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of the game, which head coach Nick Sirianni later confirmed was a torn patellar tendon. He will reportedly miss the remainder of the postseason and potentially some of the 2025 season.
Dean had a breakout season in his third year in the NFL following one season spent as a deep backup and one season sidelined with a foot injury. As a starter in 2024, though, he totaled 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hits and an interception.
“It’s a tremendous loss,” said teammate Lane Johnson. “He’s a guy that came in and battled. Last year was really a learning year for him and I felt like he took full advantage of it, and he really became a key leader on the defense.”
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“Him and [All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun] are best friends off the field and they fuel each other and compete with each other,” Johnson continued. “But as a teammate, he’s one of the best teammates we have. It’s going to be hard to replace Nakobe.”
The Eagles allowed just 17.8 points per game in 2024, good for second in the NFL behind the Los Angeles Chargers, and they’ve kept up that pace in the postseason so far. They’ll try to continue that run without Dean.
Veteran Oren Burks stepped in for him, producing five tackles and forcing a fumble on special teams on the opening kickoff, one of four turnovers on the night for Philadelphia.
Dean expressed his support for his teammates Monday on Instagram, and assured fans that he would be “back better than ever.”
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