Philadelphia Eagles LB Nakobe Dean: Bad Luck or Injury-Prone?

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean stayed healthy at the University of Georgia, but the wear and tear could be having an effect as he heads to IR for the second time

PHILADELPHIA – He looked like a steal at the time, a third-round gem that slipped in the draft where the Philadelphia Eagles greedily gobbled him up with the 83rd overall pick in 2022.

Nakobe Dean was expected to go much higher, like first-round heights.

So far, the theft turned out to be a bit like fool’s gold, after it was reported by NFL Media during the team’s bye week that Dean is expected to be placed on injured reserve for the second time this season. He was diagnosed with a Lisfranc sprain suffered during last week's 28-23 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The report said Dean will visit a foot specialist to determine a further course of action.

Dean and Dallas Goedert, who is also expected to be placed on IR after having surgery earlier in the week to repair a fractured forearm suffered against the Cowboys, would give the Eagles two roster openings.

One would likely be taken by offensive lineman Cam Jurgens, who had his 21-day practice window to return from IR opened last week.

The other could be filled, perhaps, by undrafted rookie free agent linebacker Ben VanSumeren, who was elevated from the practice squad and made his NFL debut against Dallas on special teams with 10 snaps.

The Eagles, though, were relying heavily on Dean to steady the linebacker position after T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White bolted in free agency last spring.

That hasn’t happened. Dean has played just three full games.

The second-year player from the University of Georgia was never injured in college but has now suffered a pair of setbacks and the concern about his size and ability to hold up to the rigors of a 17-game pro schedule will likely grow louder.

The reason Dean slid in the draft was due to a late medical release about him needing shoulder surgery. That proved unfounded, but Dean played 36 games in three seasons with Georgia, and the wear and tear on his 5-11, 230-pound body may be catching up with him.

Or that is completely unrelated, and the linebacker has just been a victim of a violent game, a wrong place, wrong time scenario.

Nakobe Dean will head to IR for the second time this season / USA Today

Whatever the case, the Eagles haven’t gotten much of a return on their investment in Dean’s first two seasons, but perhaps he will be well enough at some point over the team’s final eight games and beyond to return and be a factor.

Until then, Philly will once again have to rely on Zach Cunningham, who has played well after being signed on Aug. 6 along with Myles Jack, though Jack opted to retire after a couple of weeks.

Nicholas Morrow will also help fill the void as he did when Dean went on IR the first time this year, with a foot injury suffered in the season opener at the New England Patriots.

After those two, it’s a jigsaw puzzle that defensive coordinator Sean Desai will need to solve while hoping that neither Cunningham nor Morrow go down with an injury.

The Eagles have Patrick Johnson and rookie Nolan Smith, who has done some cross-training at outside linebacker, and Christian Elliss was a summer surprise, but has since been relegated to the role he performs well on special teams.

There’s no question the Eagles were spoiled by the play of Edwards and White last year, but also their ability to stay healthy for a full season.

Whether Dean can rebound and prove that this year has been nothing more than just bad luck and that he can hold up for 17 games and more.