Eagles' Nakobe Dean Using Ballet to Rehab Knee Injury Ahead of 2025 NFL Season

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is taking an unconventional approach to rehabilitating the torn patellar tendon he suffered during the playoffs last season.

Dean told Brendan Brightman and Matt DeLucia of NBC 10 in Philadelphia that he has been participating in ballet at a local company called BalletX.

The 24-year-old linebacker explained how ballet has helped in his recovery, saying: "There's way more flexibility, of course. Way more mobility. It's definitely something that's helping with my rehab. You just feel a change immediately. After you stretch, you're not as tight or as sore."

Dean noted that while he's "not interested in ballet," he believes the "mobility work and the stretching" are beneficial.

The former University of Georgia standout added: "My whole thing is trying to be the absolute best version of myself. For me, that's greatness. If I'm striving to be that every day, and doing whatever it takes to be that."

Originally a third-round pick by the Eagles in the 2022 NFL draft, Dean played limited snaps on defense as a rookie and missed all but five games in 2023 due to a foot injury.

He won a starting job last season, though, and he excelled, finishing with 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception in 15 starts.

Dean formed a highly productive linebacker duo with Zack Baun, who re-signed with the Eagles this offseason after finishing fifth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.

Once he returns from injury, Dean could face some stiff competition for his starting job in 2025.

The Eagles used the No. 31 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft on linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who was widely viewed as the best off-ball linebacker in his class.

Campbell racked up 117 tackles and five sacks in his final collegiate season at Alabama, making him a very real threat to start even if Dean is healthy.

For now, Dean is focusing on his recovery and putting himself in position to once again be a key performer for the defending Super Bowl champions when he gets cleared.