Eagles Nick Sirianni Addresses Opening Of Practice Window for Nakobe Dean

It’s a crowded linebacker room that has as much talent in it as it has had in recent memory, especially with rookie first-round pick Jihaad Campbell playing like an early candidate for the league’s rookie of the year winner.

“We’ll see,” said the Eagles head coach about what the lineup will look like when Dean returns. “Jihaad’s played good football, Zack Baun’s played really good football, Nakobe’s played really good football in the past, so really excited about that room and the guys that we have in that room.”

The coach then talked about the special teams play the team is getting from second-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., and rookie Smael Mondon, Jr.

“I love that group,” said Sirianni. “I love that group of linebackers. We’ll see how the week goes and where we are with that, but these guys love to play football, they’re physical, they’re really excited for each other’s success and they keep getting better at the details of the game, so I love that group.”

Sirianni didn’t say anything about what the rotation would look like, though the possibility that Baun, Campbell, and Dean could be on the field at once does exist, because Baun and Campbell both have the ability to turn in a few snaps on the edge, a position that is need after the Eagles placed Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo on injured reserve in the past 10 days.

“Any time you have a bunch of good football payers it gives you good options,” said Sirianni. “We’ll see how everything goes and whenever everyone’s ready, and this and that, but like I said, really excited about the room and the different things that each one of those guys can do it. Very versatile players that can help you win football games.”

The Eagles added sixth-round draft pick, edge rusher Antwuan Powell-Ryland, to the practice squad on Wednesday.