Nakobe

Dean

Carter was added to the injury report yesterday, so his absence is hardly surprising. The Eagles’ defense is a talented unit overall, but losing one of the best defensive linemen in football is a big deal. The Giants will likely attack the Eagles’ interior defensive line via an aggressive rushing attack. The Eagles also declared LG Landon Dickerson, TE Grant Calcaterra, CB Mac McWilliams and WR Xavier Gipson inactive for Week 6 against the Giants. On the plus side, LB Nakobe Dean (knee) will make his 2025 debut tonight.

He’ll make his season debut against the Giants on Thursday and likely be eased in after suffering a torn patella tendon in the playoffs last year during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run. Jihaad Campbell has been just fine so there’s no rush for Dean to assume full-time duties.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean (knee) is also listed as questionable. Carter was added to the injury report on Wednesday as a limited participant before being listed as questionable. A surprise addition to the injury report this late in the week is typically a bad sign, and the fact that the Eagles have a short turnaround to Thursday’s game will only compound the issue. Philly will still be favored by at least a touchdown with or without Carter, but his absence would make life a little easier for Jaxson Dart in his third NFL start.

Dean returned to practice last week in a limited capacity but was upgraded to full by the end of the week. The fact that he was limited as a full participant to start this week is an encouraging sign for his Week 6 availability, but the Eagles still have time to delay his return if they don’t think he’ll be ready to play on a short week. Dean totaled 128 tackles and three sacks in a breakout 2024 performance. When he returns, he should slot in as the Eagles’ No. 1 inside linebacker.

Dean, who began practicing earlier this week, took to his Instagram to share that he will miss Sunday’s game against the Broncos. The fourth-year vet is still working his way back from a torn patellar tendon he suffered last postseason, but is nearing a return after the team opened his practice window earlier in the week. With the Eagles set to play on Thursday night in Week 6, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team also opted to hold him out of the short week before giving him a chance to return in Week 7. Things remain up in the air at this time, but with only 21 days to activate him after designating him for a return, the Eagles will have Dean back in short order.

Dean tor his patellar tendon in a playoff win over the Packers in January, and posted that he will “see y’all in Week 5" on his Instagram page. The 24-year-old linebacker will be a key cog in the Philadelphia defense when he’s able to return.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first with the news, adding that Dean “has a long road to recovery” and will “likely miss the start of the season.” Dean set career-highs in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and turnovers forced this season, and will be a major loss to an Eagles defense that allowed the fewest yards per play (4.7) and second fewest points per game (17.8) of any team this season. Backup linebacker Oren Burks, who replaced Dean in Sundays NFC Wild Card Game, will likely serve as his replacement for the remainders of the postseason.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise after Dean was carted from the field in the second quarter of Sunday’s win. It gave the early appearance of a season-ender and the team, although Dean will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the full extent of his injury. It would be a massive loss for the Eagles after Dean stepped up to become a leader on the defense in his third season. His 128 tackles, three sacks, and nine TFLs on the year were all career highs, while he also picked up one interception and two fumble recoveries. If Dean is out for the season, Oren Burks would be the favorite to replace him after taking over for him on Sunday.

Dean sniffed out a screen pass underneath and after making the tackle could not get up without help, eventually leaving between two trainers and being carted off the field. It has the look of a season-ender for Philadelphia’s third-year linebacker. Dean had six total tackles, two for loss, before leaving. Oren Burks took over at linebacker for the Eagles.

Nothing is surprising here, as Hurts was ruled out before the weekend, and Dean was listed as doubtful. The Eagles will start Kenny Pickett for the first time this season after Pickett threw for 143-1-1 in relief of Hurts last week against the Commanders. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith receive slight downgrades with Pickett under center, and fantasy managers should expect a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley against a porous Cowboys defense.