Nine Months Later: Eagles Linebacker Makes Long-Awaited Return
In last night’s loss against the NY Giants, Nakobe Dean was back in uniform for the first time since he tore his patellar tendon nine months ago. His addition is not just a player returning to the 53-man roster, but also a symbolic gesture of a leader taking steps to rejoin the defense he once helped lead. Being placed on the PUP list meant he wouldn’t play a snap until at least Week Five, but his teammates say his voice and leadership never left the locker room. His story isn’t just about his injury recovery; it's defined by the reinvention of himself last season, his resilience, and what comes next in his rise with the Eagles.
Nakobe Dean arrived in Philadelphia in 2022 as a decorated Georgia linebacker and a third-round draft pick. He showed much promise, but in his rookie year, he played only 34 snaps, buried behind veterans TJ Edwards and Kyzir White during the team’s Super Bowl run. The 2023 season was expected to be his breakout year, but he suffered a foot injury in the season opener that lingered, making it difficult for him to play through. At this point, he was a young, confident player who was yet to have the opportunity to show the NFL just what he could do. He only had to be patient for the 2024 campaign to come, where everything finally came together for him to have his breakout season.
Last season marked a turning point for Dean. He started 15 games and emerged as the green dot linebacker, a leader and a signal caller for Vic Fangio’s top-ranked defense. His performance embodied everything that the Eagles hoped for: fast, instinctive, relentless. His ability to diagnose plays and execute schemes was a key contributor to the team's defensive dominance. In Philadelphia’s 2024 Super Bowl campaign, he had 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, and one interception that sealed the game against Jacksonville. During this time, he also built strong chemistry with Zack Baun, and the two formed one of the best linebacker duos in the league. In the Wild Card win over the Packers, Dean was leading the team in tackles when his season unfortunately ended short. He tore his patellar tendon while taking down Green Bay’s tight end Tucker Kraft.
This season-ending injury required extensive rehabilitation and resulted in his absence in the early games of the 2025 season as well. However, the injury didn’t mean that his energy and leadership would disappear from the team. He continued to attend meetings, be there on the sideline, and even travel with the team. Vic Fangio praised Dean for his football IQ and how his teammates leaned on him on the sidelines and in film sessions. A rookie last year, Jalyx Hunt, and a 2025 rookie, Jihaad Campbell, both appreciated how he welcomed them to the team and encouraged them to get better. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. also mentioned that he became even more vocal after his injury. All in all, the team rallied behind him, and even when he had to be physically absent, his influence remained a critical element to the team's identity and chemistry.
The road back to health was an extensive nine months that included surgery, rest, rehabilitation, and recovery. Now that he has been officially activated after Week Six, the linebacker depth for Philadelphia only improves. Baun and Campbell have been doing exceptionally well in their starting roles while Dean was sidelined, but his leadership and football knowledge will continue to elevate them. He is not yet starting for the team, but moving forward, Fangio will likely rotate the linebackers throughout games to bring the experienced linebacker and team communicator back onto the field. Dean is headed into the last year of his contract with the Birds, so this year's performance could act as a showcase for teams looking to sign him. However, one question remains: Can he stay healthy enough to recapture the dominance he displayed last season and reclaim his place as a central leader for the defense?
