According to the Philadelphia Eagles’ Twitter account, second-year inside linebacker Nakobe Dean may be out for an extended period of time with a foot injury.
How This Affects the Defense of the Philadelphia Eagles
On paper, the Philadelphia Eagles boast one of the best defenses in the National Football League. In actual play, though, they appear to be more in the middle of the pack as they are ranked 27th in defensive DVOA and 14th in total yards. Off-the-ball linebackers have a chance to influence the team because of the defensive line’s strength, which includes rookie Jalen Carter, a first-round sensation, but also because of the injuries that have decimated the team’s already thin secondary.
Nakobe Dean, a second-year and first-round projected who was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of 2022, was one of the key players hoping to accomplish that at the beginning of the season.
But throughout the season, Dean has been compelled to take on a supporting role due to the impressive play of Zach Cunnigham and, to a lesser extent, former Raider and Bear Nicholas Morrow. However, many contend that his absence will be felt nonetheless by a team with extraordinarily lofty (i.e., Super Bowl) aspirations.
Without their young, promising linebacker, the Philadelphia Eagles will probably still be alright, but it is a slight blow for the team following a devastating loss in Super Bowl LVII.