Eagles' Nakobe Dean Activated off IR After Foot Injury, Will Return vs. Jets

The Philadelphia Eagles will be missing several important defensive players against the New York Jets on Sunday, including cornerback Darius Slay Jr. and standout rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter, but they'll also be getting a player back.

The team announced Saturday it is activating linebacker Nakobe Dean off injured reserve after he missed the last four games with a foot injury.

Dean, 22, was expected to hold down a starting linebacker job after last year's starters, T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, departed in free agency ahead of the 2023 season. That duo combined for 269 tackles last season. Dean started the team's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots, registering seven tackles.

Zach Cunningham (33 tackles, one for loss, one fumble recovery) and Nicholas Morrow (21 tackles, six for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery) have held down the linebacker duties admirably in his stead.

Dean told reporters this week he had never missed a game in his life before this stint on the injured reserve, but he kept himself ready to go for his eventual return.

"Staying in the game, being in every single meeting, staying in the building," he said. "Watching all the film, everything like that. And you watch practice every day, too. I knew the game plan. I'm in on everything. I'm listening to the plays. I'm going through everything (mentally). I'm helping out, telling everybody what I'm seeing. Just staying in the game."

That impressed head coach Nick Sirianni:

"You don't have to ask much of him. He wants to be around at all times. He's a football junkie. Always trying to be around it. You saw that he was at the game [Sunday]. Sometimes, you don't always take guys to the away games. He really wanted to be there. He was great on the sideline. Obviously, we would rather have him on the field, but he was great on the sideline with his teammates saying what he saw."

"I thought the way he went about his time off... was really continuing to try to grow and get better. You just can't keep him out of the building and can't keep him out of the film room."

Depending on how much Dean is utilized upon his return, he'll face a big test against the Jets after Breece Hall torched the Denver Broncos on the ground last week to the tune of 177 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles have been stingy against the run, giving up an NFL-best 61.2 yards per contest. Losing the dominant Carter in the interior of the defensive line will hurt that run defense, no doubt, but the return of Dean should help.