January 13, 2025
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Standout linebacker Nakobe Dean was carted to the locker room during the Eagles' Wild Card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.
UPDATE [10:56 a.m.] – Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean has suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee, per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The injury occurred during the Eagles' Wild Card win over the Packers. The injury means that Dean will be sidelined for the remainder of the postseason. The start of the 2025 season could be in jeopardy for the breakout defender as well.
That news comes on the heels of a previous Monday morning report that Dean was "feared to have suffered a significant knee injury."
EARLIER...
In the aftermath of the Eagles' Wild Card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers, there came what appears to be very bad news for the Birds.
Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean, who had a breakout campaign this season, left the victory early with a knee injury and was eventually carted off to the locker room. Dean was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game, a bad sign for his immediate postseason future.
Now on Monday comes a report from the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo that Dean is "feared to have suffered a significant knee injury," one that will likely keep him sidelined for the remainder of the playoffs:
#Eagles LB Nakobe Dean, who was carted off during last night’s playoff win, is feared to have suffered a significant knee injury that would knock him for the playoffs, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2025
He’ll have an MRI this morning to deliver the full news. Dean emerged as a… pic.twitter.com/TPgkZTNydX
That's brutal. Dean, 24, was having the finest season of his young career and made for the Birds' best linebacker tandem in years with All-Pro Zack Baun.
Veteran linebacker Oren Burks filled in for Dean following his absence on Sunday and will now likely be heavily riled upon for a big role in the next round of the NFL playoffs.
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