It was a routine play in the 2024 Wild Card matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean tackled Packers tight end Tucker Kraft three yards behind the line of scrimmage and came up limping. He was assisted off the field and was carted to the locker room. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with a torn left patellar tendon and missed the rest of the playoffs.
He underwent surgery on January 20 and missed the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. It looks like it could be a while before he’s back with the team.
How Long Before Nakobe Dean is Back on the Field?
John McMullen of Sports Illustrated quotes Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on Dean’s timeline: ” Won’t be back anytime soon,” even though Dean was seen walking without crutches just three weeks after his surgery. The typical recovery time for a repaired patellar tendon is between 6 and 20 months, and it takes 20 weeks before the knee can be fully bent.
Vic Fangio mentioned that Nakobe Dean “won’t be back anytime soon” on two occasions when discussing his rehab from a torn patellar tendon. Also noted we won’t be seeing Jihaad Campbell until sometime in August.
Zack Baul will likely handle Mike duties until Nakobe returns.…— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) June 3, 2025
The Eagles drafted Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell 31st overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he tore the labrum in his left shoulder against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 31. He underwent surgery in March 2025 and hopes to return to practice in August when the Eagles start training camp.
Dean was the Eagles’ Mike linebacker in 2024 and was their signal-caller. In his first full season as a starter, he tallied 128 tackles, nine for loss, with four passes defended, and three sacks in 15 games. He was one of the cornerstones of a defense that led the league, allowing only 278.4 rushing yards per game.
How Will the Eagles Manage Without Dean?
Zack Baun is holding down the fort in the middle for now. Baun was initially drafted as an outside linebacker and edge rusher by the New Orleans Saints in the 3rd round in 2020. He was mainly a special-teams contributor, and after he left, the Saints signed a one-year contract with the Eagles in March 2024. Fangio moved him to the middle alongside Dean, and he quickly excelled. He rang up 151 tackles with 11 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one interception.
Baun stood out in the playoffs with two interceptions, including one against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. He was a First-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection and signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Eagles, including $34 million guaranteed.
With Dean out, the Eagles are in good hands in the middle, but they’ll be waiting with bated breath until he’s back to team up with Baun.