Nakobe Dean

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:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

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

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): DE K.J. Henry

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

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.

Early Look At Eagles’ Position Battles

JUNE 3: When speaking to the media on Tuesday, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said (via EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer) Campbell will begin working with off-ball linebackers when he is healthy. That time will likely not come until August, however, as he continues to rehab his shoulder. Once he does take the field, Campbell will face a steep learning curve in advance of a notable role of some kind during his rookie season.

MAY 31: The defending Super Bowl champions experienced what many winners tend to see in the offseason, losing several key pieces like defensive tackle Milton Williams, pass rusher Josh Sweat, offensive guard Mekhi Becton, linebacker Oren Burks, running back Kenneth Gainwell, and cornerbacks Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, and Avonte Maddox.

For some of these positions, the Eagles were well-prepared with recently drafted players or designed trades addressing the new vacancies. Some positions, though, are still up in the air, with camp battles likely on the horizon, as highlighted by Jimmy Kempski of the PhillyVoice.

Replacing Becton is going to be a challenge at the forefront of the team’s position decisions. Tyler Steen, a third-year guard out of Alabama, was in competition with Becton for the starting job at right guard last year. An injury in the preseason knocked him out of the running, but Becton had been running away with the job already at the time of the injury. Steen has three starts in his two years of play. To push Steen, Philadelphia traded for Kenyon Green, sending C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Houston in exchange.

Green has started the majority of games in two of his three seasons — he missed the 2023 campaign with a shoulder injury. In 2022, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the worst guard (with enough qualifying snaps) in the NFL, ranking 77th of 77. Last year, Green improved, but only slightly, coming into the rankings at 76th of 77. Luckily for Green, though, Steen did register enough snaps last year to qualify for the rankings and came in just one slot higher at 75th. While a few other players from the field of backups could also be in consideration for the job, the team hopes that they will be able to develop better results out of Steen or Green in a similar fashion to how they helped turn Becton’s career around in 2024.

Philadelphia’s top two cornerbacks are pretty set with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell solidly in place. DeJean is likely to be the primary option to fill the slot in nickel packages, so the question of who will step up as CB3 has been a point of focus early in the offseason. At the moment, Kelee Ringo is looking like the favorite to land the job. Ringo had a decent rookie campaign but saw a demotion to CB5 or 6 with the arrivals of Mitchell and DeJean. Ringo’s biggest competition for the position is likely veteran Adoree’ Jackson, though rookie fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams and reserve corner Eli Ricks could be longshots for the role.

The team’s first-round pick this year, Jihaad Campbell, will be an interesting name to watch in the preseason. Campbell was drafted as a linebacker but split his time at Alabama between the off-ball position and an edge rushing role. Because of this, Campbell could step in as a starter next to Zack Baun as an off-ball linebacker or compete for a role in a pass rushing group that doesn’t return many sacks from last year. Campbell is still recovering from a March shoulder surgery, but according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, he’s expected to be able to practice “in some form” by training camp.

At linebacker, it’s assumed that Nakobe Dean will have to start the season on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon suffered late last season. If neither Dean nor Campbell are healthy enough to step in, second-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would likely step in until someone is healthy.

Campbell may be needed on the edge, though. Nolan Smith returns as the top sack getter with 6.5, and Bryce Huff (2.5) and Jalyx Hunt (1.5) are the only other two returners at the position with sacks. The team did sign free agent Azeez Ojulari, who had six sacks with the Giants last year, but they’re also in the process of sending Huff to San Francisco, which would thin the position out even more. Kempski doesn’t mention Campbell’s potential impact on the edge, but that situation will evolve more once he can participate at training camp.

At safety and running back, the team is looking to two younger candidates to beat out their older counterparts. Second-round rookie Andrew Mukuba‘s ability to split time between safety and nickel make him uniquely appropriate to fill Gardner-Johnson’s vacancy as the starter next to Reed Blankenship. Kempski sees Sydney Brown as Mukuba’s main competition but believes that the team will sign a veteran that could end up splitting time with Mukuba.

Obviously, nobody is beating out Saquon Barkley for a starting job, but the Eagles feel confident that second-year back Will Shipley can adequately fill the role left vacant by Gainwell’s departure, based on what they saw from him in practice and games as a rookie. The only other experienced back on the roster is veteran AJ Dillon, who’s 40 pounds heavier than Shipley and plays a very different style of ball.

To wrap things up, Kempski mentions that five players — Kendall Lamm, Matt Pryor, Darian Kinnard, and six-round rookies Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams — will all be competing for the swing tackle role that has been heavily utilized by the team in recent years. He also adds that Tanner McKee likely showed enough last year to secure the QB2 role over sixth-round rookie Kyle McCord.

The Eagles finish up their Organized Team Activities with three practices over the next week and will hold mandatory minicamp on June 10, giving players plenty of opportunities to jockey for position before training camp. When training camp does role around, many of these battles will likely start to become clearer.

Eagles Place Nakobe Dean On IR, Bring Back Nicholas Morrow

A few teams have turned to Nicholas Morrow as a regular starter, but the veteran linebacker has been unable to secure much in the way of financial commitments in free agency. He has spent most of this season with the Bills as a backup, before being waived earlier this month.

Nakobe Dean‘s season-ending injury will earn Morrow another opportunity, marking a familiar development. The Eagles are bringing Morrow back, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Dean 2023 injuries kept Morrow with a regular role in Philly, and the team will turn to familiarity late in the season. This is a practice squad deal.

The Eagles placed Dean on IR after he suffered a torn patellar tendon during the Packers game; that malady may well lead to Dean missing time to start the 2025 season. Dean battled multiple foot ailments in 2023, leading to two IR stints and only five games played. After the Eagles stashed Dean as a backup during their NFC championship season in 2022, injuries are otherwise defining the former third-rounder’s rookie contract. Dean finishes this season with 128 tackles and three sacks; Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th among off-ball linebackers.

Dean has not been the Eagles’ top LB success story this year; that honor goes to Zack Baun, who morphed from a player who researched recent special teams contracts (via Yahoo.com’s Jori Epstein) into a first-team All-Pro. The Eagles initially viewed Baun as a rotational edge rusher, per ESPN.com’s Tim McManus, but he has boosted his value tremendously as a traditional off-ball LB this season. The former Saints third-rounder will be counted on as the Eagles attempt to book a second Super Bowl berth in three seasons.

Morrow initially caught on with the Eagles after a full-season run as a Bears starter, but that season only fetched a one-year, $1.2MM deal. Philly had viewed Morrow as a potential starter heading into their 2023 camp but then cut him weeks later. Morrow resurfaced on Philly’s P-squad that September and became Dean’s primary replacement soon after. Last season, Morrow started 12 games and made 95 tackles — a career-high 12 for loss — but the Eagles changed up at linebacker this past offseason to lead him to Buffalo. The Division III success story, who has made 58 career starts, played in 11 Bills games as a backup.

The Eagles also moved Parris Campbell back to their 53-man roster to take Dean’s place and added wide receiver Elijah Cooks to their practice squad. The team released wideout Joseph Ngata from its taxi squad.

Eagles LB Nakobe Dean Suffers Torn Patellar Tendon

9:52am: Further testing revealed that Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon, Rapoport and Garafolo report. He will miss the rest of the postseason as a result, and given the recovery timeline he is facing he may be sidelined for a stretch at the beginning of the 2025 campaign.

8:47am: The Eagles secured a win on Sunday to advance to the divisional round of the postseason. They may very well be without a key starter on defense, however.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean exited the contest with a knee injury. Shortly after being carted off the field, the 24-year-old was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and he may not be able to suit up again this year. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report Dean is feared to have suffered a “significant” knee ailment which will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the postseason.

An MRI is scheduled for later today, and it will offer a clearer outlook for Dean. Provided the former third-rounder is confirmed to be out of the lineup the rest of the way, though, his absence will be acutely felt by the Eagles. Dean managed a much healthier campaign in 2024 than he did last year (when he was limited to only five games), and he took full advantage of his full-time starting role. His 128 tackles were a career high, and they placed him second on the team; with three sacks, Dean also chipped in as a blitzer during his breakout campaign.

Injuries were a red flag coming out of the draft for the Georgia product, although he was able to put together a full season during his rookie campaign. He played all-but exclusively on special teams that year, but his snap share increased in 2023 before climbing to 92% in 2024. Before exiting the contest, Dean recorded six stops, including a pair of tackles for loss.

He and first-team All-Pro Zack Baun formed one of the league’s top LB tandems over the course of the season, but if Dean remains unavailable the rest of the way Philadelphia’s defense will be notably shorthanded. Oren Burks (who primarily handles special teams duties) filled in after Dean was injured. Burks logged a pair of starts during the end of the regular season, and he will likely be counted on to do the same next week when the Eagles host the winner of tonight’s Vikings-Rams matchup.