Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean Want To Stay With Eagles
The Eagles’ 2025 season is over, but two of their pending free agents have no desire to leave Philadelphia.
Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips said (via PHLY Sports’ EJ Smith) that he would prefer to re-sign with the Eagles, though he indicated he would test out free agency. The 26-year-old arrived in Philadelphia at the trade deadline but contributed only two sacks and four tackles for loss in his eight regular-season appearances despite a 78% snap share.
Phillips’ desire to play for a competitive team will likely keep the Eagles high on his list of potential destinations, but the team may not be able to offer him a market-level contract. Phillips’ age and first-round pedigree should attract him plenty of interest in free agency, but his injury history may be cause for concern.
General manager Howie Roseman is known for his aggressive spending, but he has been willing to let talented (but perhaps not elite) players walk in free agency. Last offseason, for example, Josh Sweat and Milton Williams both found new teams as Roseman was not willing to pony up for a pricey contract for either pass rusher. The Eagles need depth at edge rusher with only Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt under contract in 2026, but they have other positions to address, too.
For the same reason, linebacker Nakobe Dean may not get his wish to stay in Philly, either. He met with Roseman after the season ended, per 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks, but did not get an indication about the team’s plans. And unlike the Eagles’ edge rusher room, their linebacking corps has plenty of talent. The team signed Zack Baun to a three-year, $51MM contract last offseason and spent a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell. They also have Jeremiah Trotter and Chance Campbell, both solid special teams contributors who could get more defensive opportunities in 2026.
Offensive tackle Fred Johnson is taking a slightly different approach. He said (via The Athletic’s Zach Berman) that “opportunity” will be the biggest factor in his decision. Johnson started 14 games across the last two seasons with time at both tackle spots, but if Lane Johnson returns for the 2026 season, he will not get a starting job in Philadelphia.
“Obviously, this my home team,” Johnson said. “This is where I want to end my career, but you never know how things play out. And I feel like I played myself into a role that is more than just a backup, more than just a guy. I feel like I’m a starter in this league, and I feel like I showed that. I don’t know what the future holds, but the first rights to anything is Philly.”
Johnson said last May that he intends to play out the rest of his current contract, which goes through 2027, but his injuries this season could change his mind. In that case, Johnson would be a strong candidate to re-sign in Philadelphia and take on the starting right tackle job moving forward.
Eagles’ Lane Johnson Returns To Practice; Azeez Ojulari’s Practice Window Opens
JANUARY 11: Johnson is officially inactive for today’s game. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes practice included encouraging moments during the past few days, but Johnson’s return to the lineup will not be possible until at least next week.
JANUARY 7: The Eagles are expecting to get some reinforcements on both sides of the ball in the playoffs.
The most impactful player who could return is right tackle Lane Johnson, who has not played since mid-November due to a foot injury. Swing tackle Fred Johnson has held up, but not excelled in his All-Pro teammate’s place.
Johnson practiced on Wednesday, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He would be a major boost to an Eagles offense that has sputtered in the second half of the season. After their Week 10 bye, Philly scored more than 2o points in just three of their last nine games. Those performances all came against a handful of the worst defenses in the league. Johnson would no doubt fortify the offensive line
On defense, the Eagles are expecting to have Nakobe Dean back in the wild card round; defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said as much on Tuesday (via The Athletic’s Zach Berman). Dean has been out since Week 15 due to a hamstring injury. He also missed the first five games as he completed his recovery from a January 2025 torn patellar tendon. In between, he posted a career-high four sacks in just 10 games, an impressive number for an off-ball linebacker. First-round pick Jihaad Campbell has started next to Zack Baun for the past few games and will likely slide back to the bench upon Dean’s return.
Philadelphia’s defense may also get outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari back on the field soon. He has been on injured reserve since the beginning of November and was designated to return on Wednesday, according to McLane. The fifth-year defender signed with the Eagles this offseason but was too far down the depth chart to play at the start of the year. After four healthy scratches, he finally got some game day action with both Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo landing on IR. Ojulari, however, only saw 32 snaps across three games before injuring his hamstring.
Latest On Eagles’ New-Look Defense
Now coming off their bye week, the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles will have a different look on defense heading into a Monday night showdown with the Packers. Philadelphia made one of the most noteworthy moves at this year’s trade deadline, acquiring pass rusher Jaelan Phillips from Miami for a third-round pick on Monday.
With Phillips on the verge of his Eagles debut, his presence could impact linebackers Nakobe Dean and Jihaad Campbell. After suffering a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs last January, Dean opened the 2025 campaign on the physically unable to perform list. He didn’t begin seeing significant snaps until Week 7, leaving Campbell as one of the Eagles’ top two linebackers alongside Zack Baun.
Although Campbell, a first-round pick from Alabama, held his own during Dean’s absence, the latter amassed a higher number of defensive snaps in a 38-20 win over the Giants in Week 8. Despite that, Zach Berman of The Athletic expects Campbell to log the majority of playing time down the stretch.
While Campbell can also line up on the edge, there’s now less need for the rookie in that role. The Eagles are suddenly much deeper in that area with Phillips on board, Nolan Smith returning from IR, and Brandon Graham coming out of retirement. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is set to deploy “a more defined split between nickel and base,” writes Berman, which points to fewer snaps for Dean. Considering Dean’s a pending free agent, that would be a disappointing development for the 24-year-old.
The 6-2 Eagles will also enter the second half of their season with a remodeled secondary after free-wheeling general manager Howie Roseman swung a pair of cornerback trades during their bye. Roseman reeled in Michael Carter II from the Jets for a 2027 seventh-round pick and wide receiver John Metchie on Oct. 29. A few days later, he landed Jaire Alexander from the Ravens in a late-round pick swap on Nov. 1.
Carter is an established slot corner, yet the Eagles already have second-year standout Cooper DeJean in the fold. The addition of Carter could point to the Eagles moving the versatile DeJean outside on a full-time basis, but that’s unlikely to happen, according to James Palmer of The Athletic. The Eagles can continue shifting DeJean between the slot and the boundary, though, as no one has stepped up on the outside as a capable complement to No. 1 corner Quinyon Mitchell. Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo have struggled, while Jakorian Bennett went on IR on Sept. 24 with a pectoral injury.
The Eagles opened Bennett’s practice window on Oct. 22, and he has been a full participant this week. It seems he’ll be back sooner than later. At the very least, he and Alexander will give the Eagles more depth on the outside down the stretch.
Alexander was a two-time Pro Bowler during a fruitful run with Green Bay from 2018-24. However, after he underwent offseason knee surgery, the 28-year-old was unable to regain his old form in his short Baltimore stint. A healthy scratch for most of his time with the Ravens, Alexander has played just 61 defensive snaps this year.
The oft-injured Alexander, who hasn’t played more than seven games in a season since 2022, said this week (via Berman) that he’s healthy, adding that he believes he’s still in his prime. It remains to be seen how often the Eagles will use Alexander, but Roseman took a low-cost flier with the hope that he has something left in the tank.
Eagles Activate LB Nakobe Dean From PUP
The Eagles officially activated Nakobe Dean from the physically unable to perform list, per a team announcement, setting up the fourth-year linebacker to make his 2025 debut on Thursday night against the Giants.
Dean’s activation completes an impressive recovery from a torn patellar tendon suffered in January. He started the season on the PUP list but worked hard to return to practice as soon as he was eligible in Week 5. Dean quickly progressed to full participation and was expected to be ready for the Eagles’ Week 6 appearance on Thursday Night Football despite the short week.
Indeed, the Eagles are confident enough in Dean’s recovery and practice performance that he will play in New York, though the team’s depth at linebacker will not force him into a heavy workload right away. In fact, Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell have played almost every defensive snap for Philadelphia this year, so there may not be much playing time available for a third off-ball linebacker given how often the Eagles use five or more defensive backs. Dean’s return could allow defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to use Campbell as a pass rusher more often.
The Eagles also elevated defensive tackle Gabe Hall from the practice squad for Thursday night’s contest, which is notable because Jalen Carter was a late addition to the injury report with a heel injury, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Hall’s elevation indicates that Philadelphia is unsure of Carter will be available for the game.
Nakobe Dean Expected To Make Season Debut On Thursday
Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is on the verge of making his 2025 debut. He’s expected to play on Thursday against the NFC East rival Giants, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. The Eagles placed Dean on the reserve/PUP list in August, and he sat out their first five games while recovering from a knee injury. He returned to practice last week.
A third-round pick in 2022, Dean finally broke through last season before suffering a torn patellar tendon during a wild-card round win over the Packers. The former Georgia standout set new career highs with 15 starts, 128 tackles, three sacks, and an interception, helping the Eagles to a 14-3 record and a division championship. However, Dean’s knee injury shelved him for the Eagles’ final three playoff games, including a 40-22 rout of the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles have made a couple of notable transactions at linebacker since last season ended, calling Dean’s future with the organization into question. The team locked up 2024 breakout star Zack Baun to a three-year, $51MM contract in March and then selected Jihaad Campbell in the first round (31st overall) of the draft. Baun has opened this season playing 100 percent of defensive snaps during the Eagles’ 4-1 start, while Campbell isn’t far behind (95.5).
While Baun committed a costly unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Broncos last Sunday, he has enjoyed another terrific year. Meanwhile, Campbell has made a seamless transition from Alabama to Philadelphia. As a result, Dean may not see as much playing time in coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense as he did a year ago, when he ranked fourth among Eagles defenders in snaps.
A drop in snaps wouldn’t be ideal for Dean, who’s due to reach free agency in the offseason, but he’ll nonetheless give Philadelphia another quality defender upon his return. Having faced quarterbacks Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, and Bo Nix over the first five weeks of the season, the Eagles’ defense ranks a middling 16th in points per game allowed and 20th in yards. The Eagles could have an easier time this week against Giants rookie Jaxson Dart, and Dean’s presence should help their cause.
Eagles Open Nakobe Dean’s Practice Window
The Eagles could be close to welcoming back a key starter from last year’s Super Bowl-winning defense. The team has opened linebacker Nakobe Dean‘s 21-day practice window, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Philadelphia placed Dean on the reserve/PUP list in August.
Dean, a fourth-year man from Georgia, had the best season of his career in 2024. The former third-round pick set personal-best marks across the board with 15 starts, 128 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. However, Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon during a wild-card round victory over the Packers and missed the rest of the playoffs. The injury prevented him from taking the field during wins over the Rams, Commanders, and Chiefs.
While a healthy Dean was an important part of the Eagles’ defense last year, it seems his time with the team may be winding down. A report in August indicated that Dean was likely entering his last season with the Eagles.
Furthermore, if and when he does return this year, the 24-year-old may come back as a reserve behind Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell. Asked about Dean’s role on Wednesday, head coach Nick Sirianni offered a noncommittal (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), “We’ll see.” Sirianni went on to laud the play of Baun and Campbell.
After a 2024 breakout, the Eagles identified Baun as a cornerstone defender, inking the former Saint to a three-year, $51MM contract in March. His strong play has continued during the Eagles’ undefeated start this year. Baun has played every defensive snap for the Eagles, while Campbell has nearly matched that. After going 31st overall in last spring’s draft, the former Alabama standout has played a little over 95 percent of snaps and thrived in the early going.
At the very least, Dean will give the Eagles an enviable depth piece if they activate him. The Eagles, who are seeking a 5-0 start, could welcome him back as early as this Sunday’s home tilt against the Broncos.
Eagles Cut 35 Players, Set 53-Man Roster
The defending champs have set their initial 53-man roster. The Eagles announced the following moves:
Released:
- LS Charley Hughlett
- LB Patrick Johnson
- OT Kendall Lamm
- WR Terrace Marshall
- CB Parry Nickerson
- WR Avery Williams
Waived:
- WR Ife Adeyi
- LB Chance Campbell
- WR Elijah Cooks
- LB Lance Dixon
- DT Joe Evans
- LB Dallas Gant
- G Kenyon Green
- S Maxen Hook
- TE E.J. Jenkins
- CB Brandon Johnson
- RB Montrell Johnson
- TE Cameron Latu
- LB Ochaun Mathis
- QB Kyle McCord
- WR Taylor Morin
- TE Nick Muse
- OT Hollin Pierce
- RB ShunDerrick Powell
- LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
- CB Eli Ricks
- DE Jereme Robinson
- RB Keilan Robinson
- DT Justin Rogers
- S Andre Sam
- WR Ainias Smith
- DT Jacob Sykes
- OT Laekin Vakalahi
- CB AJ Woods
Waived/injured:
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- LB Nakobe Dean
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- OT Myles Hinton
Nakobe Dean is out until at least Week 4 as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon suffered during Philly’s playoff win over the Packers. The impending free agent is coming off his most productive NFL season. The former third-round pick finished the 2024 campaign having started all 15 of his appearances while compiling 128 tackles and three sacks.
Meanwhile, the Eagles moved on from a pair of notable offseason acquisitions. Kendall Lamm started 15 of his 32 appearances for the Dolphins over the past two years, and he was expected to provide the Eagles with some OT depth. Instead, the 33-year-old will look to continue his career elsewhere. The team also moved on from former second-round WR Terrace Marshall. The LSU product topped out at 490 yards during his three-year stint with the Panthers, and he followed that up with a 41-yard showing with the Raiders in 2024.
Eagles Unlikely To Retain LB Nakobe Dean Beyond 2025?
2025 marks the final year of Nakobe Dean‘s rookie contract. No extension is viewed as likely for the Eagles linebacker, meaning a trip to free agency next spring is currently on track to take place.
Dean’s production in college was insufficient to prevent a drop down the order during the 2022 draft. Injury concerns resulted in a fall to the third round, although he did not miss a regular or postseason game as a rookie. The following campaign saw Dean limited to only five contests, however, and a torn patellar tendon suffered in this year’s wild-card game figures to leave him sidelined at the outset of the 2025 season. Given how late he went down last season, he could spend a significant portion of the year on the physically unable to perform list.
In no small part due to his injury history, PhillyVoice’s Geoff Mosher writes this will “probably” be Dean’s final year with the Eagles. They signed Zack Baun to a three-year, $51MM extension in March and drafted Jihaad Campbell in the first round of April’s draft, signaling that Dean is not a part of their future linebacker plans. Recent Day 3 picks Jeremiah Trotter (2024) and Smael Mondon (2025) have impressed as well, per Mosher, potentially giving Philadelphia cheap, young backups for the next few years.
If Dean were healthy, the Eagles’ linebacker depth might have made him a trade candidate, according to Mosher, but his inability to pass a physical would likely be an insurmountable obstacle to such a deal. Instead, he will start the year on the sidelines, and by the time Dean gets back on the field – if at all – there may not be a role for him in Vic Fangio‘s defense.
Beyond contributing in 2025, a full recovery will obviously be paramount in determining Dean’s free agency value next offseason. Teams will be unlikely to commit significant long-term money, so, like many players coming off a major injury, he may have to take a shorter ‘prove it’ deal and rebuild his stock for the 2027 offseason.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/25
With several training camps underway, here are today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravend
- Placed on active/NFI list: LB Jake Hummel
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on active/NFI list: WR Laviska Shenault
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tre Swilling
- Waived: QB Ethan Garbers
Chicago Bears
- Released: S Tarvarius Moore
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): DE K.J. Henry
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Micah Robinson, LB Quay Walker
Houston Texans
- Placed on active/PUP list: DE Denico Autry, DE Derek Barnett, C Eli Cox, DT Foley Fatukasi, DT Kurt Hinish, LB K.C. Ossai, RB Dameon Pierce, RB J.J. Taylor
- Placed on active/NFI list: CB Alijah Huzzie, RB Joe Mixon
- Waived: CB Keydrain Calligan
Los Angeles Chargers
- Reverted to reserve/PUP list: T Savion Washington
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on active/PUP list: WR Tru Edwards, TE Mark Redman
New England Patriots
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB Jahlani Tavai
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Carlton Davis, WR Jeremiah Webb
New York Giants
- Reverted to reserve/PUP list: S Anthony Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Samuel Jackson
- Activated from active/NFI list: LB Aaron Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Joe Evans
- Placed on active/PUP list: LB Nakobe Dean
- Waived (with injury designation): OL Marcus Tate
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on active/NFI list: DT Johnathan Hankins
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Timmy Horne, RB Jermar Jefferson
- Place on IR: QB Will Levis (story)
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OLB Lorenzo Carter (story)
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Tay Martin
- Placed on active/PUP list: G Sam Cosmi (story)
- Placed on reserve/did not report list: WR Terry McLaurin (story)
Houston fans may be discouraged to see a few big names on injured lists, but all is not lost. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Mixon’s “medical outlook is positive” as the team plans to gradually increase his activity throughout camp. Likewise, Autry is expected to ease his way back into camp workouts, as well. Pierce, on the other hand, is expected to be ready to come off the list at the start of camp.
Per ESPN’s John Keim, Cosmi likely won’t see much time on the field in camp, but he appears to be hitting all the mile markers en route to being healthy for the start of the regular season. With McLaurin officially beginning his holdout yesterday, the team has made the corresponding roster move. McLaurin will rack up fines of $50K per each day missed, but if the team can come to terms on an extension, they can make sure those fines are nullified.
Tyler Steen Favorite To Land Eagles’ RG Job; Latest On Team’s LB Plans
Upon signing with the Eagles after the 2024 draft, Mekhi Becton was coming off an injury-defined tenure as a Jets tackle. The Eagles were not initially planning for Becton to move into their starting lineup at guard, but it ended up working out that way after Becton held off Tyler Steen for the gig.
As Cam Jurgens slid to center following Jason Kelce‘s retirement, the Eagles saw that transition lead to a Pro Bowl nod as Jeff Stoutland‘s unit delivered another dominant season. Becton parlayed his role in the Super Bowl LIX-winning campaign into a two-year, $20MM Chargers deal. Becton’s defection returns Steen to the forefront, as Year 3 will provide the 2023 third-round pick another chance.
As it stands, Steen is expected to enter training camp as the frontrunner at right guard, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes. The Eagles had seen Becton impress at guard during their offseason program last year, but Steen still was the presumed favorite heading into camp. Becton, however, moved ahead during the padded work that began when the team reconvened.
The Eagles have another chance to deploy a fully homegrown O-line configuration this season, and Steen has been a candidate to take over at guard since the team drafted him. After working as a clear-cut backup during Kelce’s finale, Steen did not seize an opportunity last year. But the Alabama alum, who played 316 offensive snaps last season, is the favorite once again, InsidetheBirds.com’s Andrew DiCecco notes.
As our Ely Allen broke down last week, trade pickup Kenyon Green lurks after an underwhelming Texans tenure. Becton entered the Stoutland program as a former first-round pick trending downward. It will be interesting to see if the former No. 15 overall pick can make this a legitimate competition. Green and the reacquired Matt Pryor (15 Bears starts in 2024) held the second-team guard roles during the Eagles’ most recent OTA session, DiCecco adds. Should Steen falter again, a team known for strong work in the O-line planning department will have options.
Elsewhere on Philly’s roster, the team will need to get by without its preferred linebacker group for a bit. Suffering a torn patellar tendon during the Eagles’ wild-card win, Nakobe Dean is not close to returning, per Vic Fangio. Slotted as Pro Football Focus’ No. 12 off-ball LB last season, Dean had shaken off an injury-plagued tenure prior to his most significant setback yet. The 2023 third-round pick will be a clear candidate for the reserve/PUP list to start the season.
Jihaad Campbell is expected to be ready at some point during training camp, but the first-rounder’s absence — and potential future as an edge player — is giving Jeremiah Trotter Jr. extensive run. Trotter has lined up alongside Zack Baun as a first-stringer during the Eagles’ OTAs.
Drafted in the fifth round by the same team that employed his father during multiple stints, Trotter logged 104 snaps on defense as a rookie. The Eagles used a similar plan for Dean, who effectively redshirted in 2022, but injuries have since intervened. Trotter lining up as the team’s Week 1 starter alongside Baun is squarely in play, McLane adds. Though, Campbell should have plenty to say about this arrangement in the not-too-distant future.